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.

Burston Fm

Early-attested site in the Parish of St Stephens

Historical Forms

  • (æt) Byrstane 996 KCD696 11th
  • Burstan 12th StAlbansN
  • Burston(e) t.Ric1 Ch 1301 FF 1347
  • Berston 1296 SR
  • Byrston 1307 ib
  • Burstonhalle 1437 Pat

Etymology

Burston Fm (6″) is (æt ) Byrstane 996 (11th) KCD 696, Burstan 12thStAlbansN , Burston (e )t. Ric 1 (1301) Chet freq to 1347FF , Berston 1296SR (p), Byrston 1307 ib. (p), Burstonhalle 1437 Pat.Probably a compound of byrg, gen. sg. of burh , and stan , hence 'stone belonging to the burh (of St Albans).' The stan was probably a boundary mark.