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.

Elm Bridge

Early-attested site in the Parish of Hucclecote

Historical Forms

  • Telm(e)brugge 12 Glouc
  • Telm(e)brug' 1220 Fees
  • Telbrugg(e), Telbruge, Telbrig 12 Glouc c.1200,c.1210 GlR
  • Thelbrug(e) c.1220,c.1230 GlR
  • Lelbruge 1238 Bracton
  • Lembrige 1248 Ass
  • Elbrug(ge), Elbrugg c.1220–1347 GlR 1241 FF 1284 Misc 1503 Rent
  • Elbrigg(e), Elbrygg(e) 1241 GlR 1287 Ass 1389 Works
  • Elbridge 1598 Dep
  • Elebrig(g), Elebrygg 1221 Ass c.1230 GlR 1395 FF
  • Elm(e)brug(ge) 1236 FF 1327 SR
  • Elm(e)brydge 1556 FF
  • Ellebrigge 1272 FF
  • Elleberge 1299 RBB
  • Embridge 1557 Val20d

Etymology

'Bridge by the elm-tree', v. elm , brycg . In the earlier forms initial T -, Th - is due to a wrong analysis of at Elmebrugge or the Elmebrugge (Phonol. § 45). The use of the Fr. def.art. le in Lelbruge and the various Elme - forms make it quite clear that this is not þel -brycg 'plank bridge' (v. þel in EPN ii, 203); loss of -m - before the bilabial -b - is occasionally found in the spellings of other p.ns., Ellebrug ' for Elmbridge (Wo 290) and Ell Bridge (iii, 175infra ).