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.

Borough Island

Early-attested site in the Parish of Bigbury

Historical Forms

  • the Boro' Island 1667 DKR40,145
  • Borough or Bur Isle 1765 D

Etymology

There was an ancient chapel here called 'chapel of St Michael de la Burgh ,' 1411 Exon, the beorg or hill being that on which the chapel stands.