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.

Swimbridge

Major Settlement in the Parish of Swimbridge

Historical Forms

  • Birige 1086 DB
  • Svimbrige 1225 Exon
  • Swymbridge 1535 VE
  • Swynbrigge 1274 Exon
  • Swynbrug(ge) 1334 SR 1422 Exon
  • Swinebregge 1286 Ass
  • Sumbridge 1577 Saxton
  • Som(e)bridge, Sonebridge 1628 Barum1,61
  • Symbridge 1632 Wills

Etymology

The first element is apparently to be derived from the Sawin (OE  Sǣwine ) who held the manor of Birige in 1086 (DB f. 194 b).If this is so, the stress accent must later have been shifted to the second syllable. Cf. Shrewton PN W 148, Wyrardisbury PN Bk 244; the name was then associated with the word 'swine,' common in p.n.'s. The bridge here is over a tributaryof the Taw.