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.

Willsbury

Early-attested site in the Parish of St Briavels

Historical Forms

  • Wyuelesburi 1282 For
  • Wilsbery grene 1618 SPDom
  • Wilsburie 1623 FF 1637 InqM
  • Wilsberye 1635 For

Etymology

Willsbury, Wyuelesburi 1282For , Wilsbery grene 1618SPDom 4, Wilsburie 1623FF , 1637 InqM, Wilsberye 1635For . 'Wifel's fortified place', v. burh . The pers.n. is an unrecorded OE  Wifel found in such p.ns. as Wilsill (YW v, 150), Wilsford (W 326), etc.