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.

Harrowbeer

Early-attested site in the Parish of Buckland Monachorum

Historical Forms

  • Baraberga 1096 France
  • Harebere 1546 LP
  • Herrabere 1591 SR
  • Harrabeare 1624 FF

Etymology

If the b in the earliest form is a clerical error for h , the first element may be OE  hara , 'hare.' With the great gap in forms between 1096 and 1546 it is difficult to be sure if the second element is berg or bearu . We clearly have the second of these words in Harrowbarrow (Co), Harebeare 1313 Fine, Estharabyar '1324Ass .