Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Hennebyr 1244 FF

• Hennbyr 1244 Ass

• Hembyr 1249 FF

• Hymbur 1249 1280 Ass

• Hymbir 1280 ib

• Himburi, Hymburi l13 AddCh

• Hymbury 1327 SR 1334 Wim 1352 AddCh 1476 Cl

• Hymbere 1504 Ipm

• Hynbury 1545 Hutch3

• Henbury 1546 Surv 1664 HTax

• Henbury Higher or Upper Hymbury, Henbury Lower 1774 Hutch1

• Lower Henbury, Higher Henbury 1811 OS

• Henbury Dairy 1826 Gre

Etymology

Henbury Fm, Henbury Ho & Henbury Manor (SY 963982), Hennebyr 1244 FF, Hennbyr 1244Ass , Hembyr 1249 FF, Hymbur 1249 ib, 1280Ass , Hymbir 1280ib , Himburi , Hymburi l13AddCh , Hymbury 1327SR , 1334Wim , 1352AddCh et freq to 1476 Cl, Hymbere 1504 Ipm, Hynbury 1545 Hutch3, Henbury 1546Surv , 1664 HTax, Henbury Higher or Upper Hymbury , Henbury Lower 1774 Hutch1, probably '(at) the high or chief fortified place', from hēah (wk.obl. hēan ) and burh (dat. sg. byrig ), cf. Broadhembury D 557, Henbury Gl 3130; the ground here rises to 275′ at Henbury Hill 1811 OS. In spite of the two earliest forms cited, the first el. is less likely to be henna , gen.pl. of henn 'a hen', cf. Encombe in Corfe Castle par. 1 12. The i - forms for the first el. (if OE  hēan ) are probably due to the change ēa > īe > ī , and the spellings also show ME  assimilation of nb to mb . Henbury Ho & Henbury Manor are respectively Lower Henbury , Higher Henbury 1811 OS, Henbury Fm is Henbury Dairy 1826 Gre.