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.

Burtree

Early-attested site in the Parish of Marton

Historical Forms

  • Buirtrekelde 1199–1203 Guis
  • Birtrestub 12 Whitby
  • Buirtrestub 13 Whitby
  • burtrecros 13 Easby
  • Buyrthwait, Burethwaites, Byrthwait 13 Easby
  • Byrtre c.1180–94 YCh

Etymology

The first element is found fairly frequently in Y; burtrecros 13Easby 81 d (a lost place in Hornby, GillE), a lost field in Monkby 245 infra called Buyrthwait , Burethwaites , Byrthwait 13Easby 205, 210, 214, Byrtre c. 1180–94 YCh 796, and Burtersett 267infra . The ultimate origin of the element is rather obscure, but it is certainly identical with NEDial bottry , 'aldertree,' Engl  burtree , the earliest recorded instance of which is c. 1450 burtre = hec sambucus (NED s.v. bourtree ); cf. Scots  bourtree , 'alder.'

Places in the same Parish

Major Settlement