Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Cereberie 1086 DB

• Cereberia Exon

• Cereberg 1253 FF 1268 Ass

• Cerebrug 1268 ib

• Chereberge 1212 Fees

• Cherebergh 1274 Ipm

• Chereberwe 1275 Cl 1280 Pat

• Chereburch 1288 Ass

• Cerberge 1274 Cl 1280 Ass

• Cerbergh 1280 ib

• Cherberwe 1274 Cl, Fine

• Cherbergh 1316 FA 1489 Ipm

• Cherborgh 1389 Fine

• Cherburgh 1389 Pat 1428 FA

• Chiresbire c.1185 Templar

• Serisberewe 1275 RH

• Cheleberge 1204 PatR 1215 ClR 1251 Ch

• Chelebir 1227 Fees

• Chauberg(e) 1206 Cur 1428 FA

• Chernebrug 1219 Fees

• Cherlegh (sic) 1252 Fees

• Scereberg 1288 Ass

• Charbergh 1340 NI

• Charburgh 1431 FA

• Charbor(r)ow 1508 DCMDeed 1693 DCMCt

• Charborughe 1535 VE

• Charbar(r)ow 1575 Saxton 1692 Weld1

• Charburrough, Charburrow 1696 DCMCt

• Charebury 1450 MinAcct

Etymology

The second el. is beorg 'hill, barrow', later influenced by burh 'fortified place'. The first el. may be an old name for R. Winterborne (on which Charborough is situated) identical with R. Cerne (a derivative of PrWelsh or PrCorn *carn 'cairn, rock', v. RNs.infra ), as suggested by Fägersten 75, Ekwall DEPN on the basis of the isolated form in Cherne - (1219) and on a comparison of the spellings with those of Charminster 1338 (which also show early loss of -n -). Cf. also Charney Basset, Cherbury Camp Brk 389–390, 704–705. OE  *cearr(e) 'a turn, a bend' (with reference to the gentle curve in the course of R. Winterborne here) might also be thought of for the first el., but as Professor Löfvenberg points out, the persistent early spellings with single r make this unlikely. Initial C - for Ch - and -l - for -r - (dissimilation of r —r to l —r ) are AN  features, both of them evidenced in the form Celeberge cited under Loosebarrow hundred supra , v. ANInfl 18f, 120.