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.

Westbury on Severn

Major Settlement in the Parish of Westbury on Severn

Historical Forms

  • wið Wæst byrig 1053 ASC 11th
  • Wes(t)beri(e) 1086 DB c.1125 WMP 1167 P
  • Wes(t)buri(a), Wes(t)bury(e), Wes(t)bir', Wes(t)byry 1154–89 Glouc 1155 RBE c.1200 GlR 1220 Fees 1221 Ass 1595 Comm
  • Westbyry on Sevarne 1297 Pat
  • Wezebury 1358 Ipm
  • Wes(e)bury(e) 1438,1458 Pat 1592 Dep
  • Weysbury(e), Weisbury(e) 1560 Will 1600 FF

Etymology

'Western fortification', v. west , burh ; it is west of Gloucester and the Severn on the Roman road to Wales. Cf. Westbury on Trym (141supra ). The identification of the ASC form with this place is not certain, but seems probable as in the context Welshmen slew many English there.