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.

Burwell

Major Settlement in the Parish of Burwell

Historical Forms

  • Burcwell 1060 KCD809 c.1350
  • Burghwell(e) 1298 Ass t.Hy8 Rental
  • Burgewelle 1346,1428 FA
  • Borewell(e) c.1070 ChronRams 17th Pat 1384
  • Buruuella 1086 DB
  • Buruuelle 1086 ICC
  • Burwell(e) 1227 FF
  • Bureuuelle 1086 DB, InqEl (p)
  • Burewell(e) 1170 LibEl 1372 Pat
  • Burewelle Sci Andree 1291 Tax
  • Bureswell(e) 1258 FF
  • Bureswelle Sce Mar' 1291 Tax
  • Barewell 1285 Ass
  • Barwell 1548 Pat 1648 Cai
  • Borwell(e) 1304 MinAcct 1421 FF
  • Bourrewell 1332 Pembroke
  • Burelle 14th Rams

Etymology

'Spring by the fort,' v. wielle , burh . There is a field near the site of the castle which is still called Spring Close. The castle was Norman, but probably the Norman castle occupied the site of an earlier earthwork, v. CAPr xxxvi, 127. There were formerly two churches here, dedicated respectively to St Andrew and St Mary .