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.

Littlebury

Early-attested site in the Parish of Stanford Rivers

Historical Forms

  • Litlebir', Lytlebir', Litelbury(e) 1287 Ass 1318,1320 Cl
  • Litelbery 1335 FF
  • Litleberies 1347 Ct
  • Littilbury 1405 FF
  • Littilbery 1412 FA
  • Roghonho 1234 Ass

Etymology

Littlebury is Litlebir ', Lytlebir ', Litelbury (e )1287Ass , 1318, 1320 Cl, Litelbery 1335FF , Litleberies 1347Ct , Littilbury 1405FF , Littilbery 1412 FA. This name is probably manorial, for Henry de Littlebir ' had land in Roghonho in 1234 (Ass ) (cf. Rockett's Cottages infra ), and the manor is usually described as that of 'Littlebury and Rochenhoe.'