Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Celberge 1086 DB

• Celberga Exon (× 2)

• Chalberge, Chalbergh 1150–1200 MontC

• Westchalbergh 1341 Fine

• Chalburgh 1412 FA

• Cheleberg(e) 1204 P 1242 Cl 1244 Cl 1251 Cl 1252 Cl 1256 Cl

• Cheleburg' 1244 ib

• Chauberg(e) 1207 1235–6 Fees

• West Chauberg(e) 1268 Ass 1280 1281 Ipm 1291 Tax

• Chaubergh(') 1279,1281,1285 Ipm 1288 Ass 1327,1332 SR

• Westchaubarue 1268 Ass

• Chawberge, Westchawberge 1303 FA

• Est Chauberg' 1384 Weld2

• Chelberue, Chelbarue Paen 1268 Ass

• Chelbergh(e) 1315 Hen1, Ipm

• West Chelbergh(e) 1337 Cl

• West Chelbergh(e) 1337 Fine

• West Chelbergh(e) 1337 Ipm

• Est Chelbergh(e), West Chelbergh(e) 1340 NI 1431 FA

• Chelberwe 1321 Inqaqd

• West Chelberwe 1381 IpmR

• West Chelberge 1337 Ipm

• East Chelberewe 1343 Pat

• West Chelburgh(e) 1350 Ipm

• West Chelburgh(e) 1351 Cl 1355 Ipm

• Est Chelburgh(e) 1434 Cl

• Chelborowe 1535 VE

• Chelborrow 1653 ParlSurv

• West Chelborrough 1667 DCMDeed

• Chilbarue Paen 1268 Ass

• Chelesbury (sic) 1297 Pat

• Westrechelburgh 1336 Drew

• Chellebergh 1388 Fine 1422 Hutch3

• Cheldeborowe (sic) 1428 FA

• West from 1268 Ass

• Est from 1340 NI

Etymology

The second el. is OE  beorg 'hill', also 'barrow, mound, tumulus'. The first is uncertain. It may be the OE  pers.n. Cēola , or OE  ceole 'throat, channel, gorge' with reference to the valley between E and W Chelborough. A third possibility is OE  cealc 'chalk' as first suggested by Ekwall DEPN 99 and more recently supported by Cole JEPN 1945, cf. also VEPN 2126. In her detailed study of the el. cealc , Cole loc. cit. maintains that the name Chelborough alludes to the distinctive chalk cap of Castle Hill (q. v. in E Chelborough infra ) which rises to 600′. This would then of course be the beorg referred to in the name, but cf. also Chelborough Hill (in W Chelborough infra ) which likewise reaches 600′ and which has a Lime Kiln on it in 1839TAMap . Perhaps to be compared are the lost hundred name Celberge 1107, 139 and the lost f.n.Chelbargh 1 313. For the loss of the stop consonant if the first el. is cealc , cf. Chalton PN Ha 50.

The affix Paen found in spellings from 1268Ass is manorial: one knight's fee is held by Robert Fitzpain in (E) Chelborough in 1279–80 Hutch3 and by his like-named successor in 1346 ib, cf. also Robert filius Pagani 1303 FA, 1327 SR (taxed here), Robert fitz Pagani 1315Hen 1. The other distinguishing affixes are also found at an early date: West from 1268Ass , Est from 1340 NI. East Chelborough is entered under Lucomb (= Lewcombe q. v. infra , at the N end of the par.) in 1774 Hutch1 and 1863 Hutch3, because 'it formerly seems to have been united to it; for in the Sarum Registers, it is said Leucomb , alias Estchelborough '.