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.

Redbourn

Major Settlement in the Parish of Redbourn

Historical Forms

  • (æt) Reodburne 11th KCD962 13th
  • Redborne 1086 DB
  • Redeburn 1291 Tax 1300 Ch
  • Redebourn 1337 BM
  • Reddeburne 1428 FA
  • Redbourne Strete 1549 Pat
  • Radburnam 11th Gesta
  • Radbourne t.Hy5 ADvi 1500 ECP
  • Radburne 1558 FF
  • Rodborne 1346 ADi

Etymology

'Reed stream,' v. hreod , burna . Redburna , quod tale nomen trahit ab arundineto (Gesta i, 54). Cf. Radbourne (PN Wa 142), Rodbourne (PN W 140).