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.

Melbourne

Major Settlement in the Parish of Thornton

Historical Forms

  • Middelburne, Midelborne 1086 DB
  • Mileburn 1200 ChR
  • Medeburg (sic) 1227 FF
  • Methel(e)burn' 1230 P 1279 Ass 1342 SR
  • Mechelburn 1276 RH 1415 YI
  • Medelbornne 1285 YI
  • Medelburn 1350 Ipm
  • Meldeburn 1285 Baildon
  • Mel(l)eburn 13th Warter
  • Melburn(e) 1305 YI 1540 FF
  • Melborne 1463 Pat 1583 NCWills

Etymology

'Middle stream,' v. middel (later replaced by OScand  meðal), burna . The Mechel -spellings are errors for Methel -.

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Major Settlement