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.

Youlbury

Early-attested site in the Parish of Wootton

Historical Forms

  • Yolwebir' 1248 Ass
  • Yebour 1327 SR
  • Yolbur 1333 ib
  • Yowbery 1578 CourtR
  • Yelbury 1720,1756 Bodl

Etymology

Youlbury, Yolwebir '1248Ass (p), Yebour 1327SR , Yolbur 1333ib (p), Yowbery 1578CourtR , Yelbury 1720, 1756Bodl . Identical with Ilbury O 257, 'yellow fort', v. geolu , burh , byrig ; there is yellow clay and gravel in the vicinity. The house called Youlbury stands on a hill-spur which may have been fortified in prehistoric times.