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.

Woodbury

Major Settlement in the Parish of Woodbury

Historical Forms

  • (on) Wudebirig, (on) Wudeburg(e) lande 1072–1103 Earle
  • Wodeberia 1086 DB
  • Wodebyr(e) 1242 Fees782 1286 Ch
  • Wodebiri 1268 Ipm
  • Wudeberi 1175 P
  • Wdebir' 1212 Fees
  • Wddebir' 1205 France
  • Wadbury 1465 Pat

Etymology

v. wudu , burh . The name was probably first applied to the ancient 'castle' on the common here, round which there is still much woodland.