Radbourne
Major Settlement in the Parish of Radbourne
Historical Forms
- Radburn(e) 1086 DB 1306 Ass 1328 SR 1345 Cor 1372 Gaunt 1458 Woll
- Rabburne 1086 DB
- Rabborna 1141 France
- Redburn(e), Redbourn, Redborn(e) 1226,1295 FF 1302,1346 FA 1577 Saxton 1610 Speed
- Rodburn(e), Rodborn(e), Rodbourne 1226 Burton 1243 Fees 1263 Pap 1291 Tax 1319 FF c.1600 AddCh
- Rodebourne 1321 FF 1346 Pat 1346 FA 1386 BurtCh 1408 DbCh 1410 Pat
- Roddeburne 1281 Ass 1358 BelCh 1421 WollCh
Etymology
Perhaps 'reed stream', v. hrēod , burna , but the early forms in Rad - suggest confusion with rēad 'red' and it is possible that this is in fact the original first element. The stream itself shows no signs of a red colour but there are deep underlying strata of heavy red clay. Cf. Redbourne LRadburne , Reburne 1086 DB, (in ) Ratburno 1090 RegAnt.