Kingsbury
Early-attested site in the Parish of St Albans
Historical Forms
- (æt) Cyngesbyrig 996–1006 Wills 13th
- Kengesbiri 12th Gesta
- Kyngesbury 1141–66 ib
- Kyngesbir' 13th BM
- Kingesburi t.Ric1 Ch 1301
Etymology
Kingsbury (6″) is (æt ) Cyngesbyrig 996–1006 (13th) Wills, Kengesbiri 12th Gesta, Kyngesbury 1141–66 ib., Kyngesbir '13th BM, Kingesburi t. Ric 1 (1301) Ch. 'The king's defensible house,' v. burh . This is one of the few bury -names in the county which go back to OE times. The place anciently belonged to the Saxon kings and was bought by Alfric, afterwards abbot of St Albans, from King Ethelred (cf. Gesta i, 32). Cf. Kingsbury (Mx), Kyngesbyrig 1044–6 KCD 843, which was granted to Westminster Abbey by Edward the Confessor.