English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Winterbourne

Major Settlement in the Parish of Winterbourne

Historical Forms

  • Wintrebvrne, Wintreborne 1086 DB
  • Winterburn' 1178 P
  • Wintreburn' 1220 Fees
  • Wynterburn' Danvers, Wynterburn' Mayn 1310–11 FF
  • Wynterburne Mayne 1394 BM 1412 FA
  • Wynterborne Mayne, Wynterborne de Anvers 1428 FA
  • Wynterburne Mayne, Wynterburne Davers, Wynterburn Danvers, Wynterborn Gray, Wynterborn Mayn 1476 AD
  • Winterbourne Davers 1752 ArchJ
  • Winterburninga gemære 951 (16th) BCS 892

Etymology

'Stream dry except in winter', a very common name, for other examples of which v. DEPN. The place is also referred to in the phrase Winterburninga gemære 951 (16th) BCS 892, 'boundary of the people of Winterbourne'.

Before the Norman Conquest there were three manors in Winterbourne, which appear to have been united before the end of the 15th cent. The descent of these is discussed in VCH iv, 62–5. Winterbourne Gray is so called from the family of Sir Robert Grey of Rotherfield (O), who married into the family holding this estate in the early 14th cent. Winterbourne Danvers from the family of that name who had a large estate here in the 13th cent. The manor of Winterbourne Grey passed to William Danvers in the early 15th cent. Winterbourne Mayne from an owner whose Christian name was Maen , who died in 1260–1 seised of this manor. The site of the manor of Winterbourne Mayne was known as Bussock's Court (infra ) in the 16th cent (VCH iv, 65).