Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Little Burgherthe 1280 FF

• Litleburghwerth marsh 1348 Ipm 1349 Fine

• Littlebrowerd, Littleboreward 1382,1383 IpmR

• (Litel)bour(e)werde 1407 Pat 1419 MinAcct

• Bourgwerde ib.

• Bowerwood 1553 Pat

• Muche Borewood 1556 Ct

• Burwell or Burwede 1586 Rochford

• Pat, Great Burwood, West Burwood, Little Burwood 1764,1826 Rochford

Etymology

Burwood (Great Burwood, Little Burwood and New Burwood). Cf. (marsh of ) Borewerde a.1198 Bart, Little Burgherthe 1280 FF, Litleburghwerth marsh ('daily inundated by the sea') 1348 Ipm, 1349 Fine, Littlebrowerd , Littleboreward 1382, 1383 IpmR, (Litel )bour (e )werde 1407 Pat, 1419MinAcct , Bourgwerde ib., Bowerwood 1553 Pat, Muche Borewood 1556Ct , Burwell or Burwede 1586 Rochford, Greate Burwerd 1593 Pat , Great Burwood , West Burwood , Little Burwood 1764, 1826 Rochford. The first element is OE  burh, the second is werth , 'marsh,' as in Labworth supra 148, hence 'marsh by the burh,' referring probably to some lost stronghold.