Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Niderberie 1086 DB

• Niderbiri 1091 Osm

• Nutherbir 1226 Osm

• Nutherbury 1327 SR

• Nytherbyre, Nytherbire Roberti c.1226 Sarum

• Nitherbir' 1280 Brid

• Nitherbury 1285,1428 FA

• Nitherbyr' 1285 ib

• Nitherbur' 1288 Ass

• Nitherburi 1356 Weld2

• Nytherbury 1291 Tax 1332 SR

• Nithirbiry 1329 FF

• Nythyrbury 1504 Ipm

• Netherbire in Terra c.1226 Sarum

• Netherbir' 1280 Ass

• Netherbury 1288 1306 FF 1315 Pat 1316 FA

• Netherbur' 1288 Ass

• Netherburi(e) 1295 Pap 1658 Pole

• Netherbery(e) 1345 Pat 1600 AD

• Netherbyri, Netherbiry 1535–43 Leland

• Nethirbury 1372,1376 Pat

• 'prebend of Nytherbury and Beymunster' 1291 Hutch3

• 'prebend of Netherbury Ecclesia' 1396, 1413 Pat

• prebend of Nethirburychirch(e), Netherburychirch(e)' 1401, 1402 Pat

• 'prebend of Netherbury in Terra' 1373, 1410 Pat

• Netherbury in Terris Eliz ChancP

• Netherbury in terra al's Yeandover 1681 DCMCt

Etymology

'Lower fortified place', from neoðerra, niðerra and burh (dat.sg. byrig ), no doubt so named in relation to Beaminster, Netherbury being 'lower downstream' on R. Brit. The el. burh may here have the sense 'fortified dwelling' or simply 'manor house, estate'.

Three estates here were long associated with prebends in Salisbury cathedral, described thus by Hutch3: 'Here are three manors formerly belonging to the three prebends in the church of Sarum, viz., Netherbury in Ecclesia , or Beminster Parsonatus , Netherbury in Terra , or Yondover , and Slape ' (2 105). The first of these is 'prebend of Nytherbury and Beymunster '1291 Hutch3, 'prebend of Netherbury Ecclesia '1396, 1413 Pat, 'prebend of Nethirburychirch (e ), Netherburychirch (e )'1401, 1402 Pat; Beaminster supra was formerly a chapelry in Netherbury par. The second is referred to in the e13 forms Nytherbire Roberti and Netherbire in Terra cited above (it was held by Robert the Scot in c.1226 Sarum), and it is 'prebend of Netherbury in Terra '1373, 1410 Pat, Netherbury in Terris Eliz ChancP, Netherbury in terra al 's Yeandover 1681DCMCt , v. Yondover Fm infra . For the third, v. Slape Fm & Slape Ho infra . The Latin affixes are ecclesia 'church', parsonatus 'ecclesiastical benefice, parsonage', and terra (ablative plural terris ) 'land, tenement'.