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.

Ellerburn

Early-attested site in the Parish of Thornton Dale

Historical Forms

  • Elreburne 1086 DB 1225 Ebor
  • Elrebrune 1086 DB
  • Elraburna 1145–53 Leon35
  • Alrebrune 1155–67 YCh Hy2 Leon4d
  • Ellebrone c.1200 For
  • Elleburn(e) 1227 Pat 1231 Ebor
  • Ellerburn(e) 1252 Ebor 1275 YI

Etymology

'Alder stream' v. elri , burna . There is indecision in the early forms between OE  alor and ON  elrir and between OE  burna and ON  brunnr . All these forms have their parallels in Y. In the light of the early forms quoted this place cannot be identical with OE  æt Helaþyrnum (ASC 778 E). Cf. Brandl Festschrift i. 48 on this identification.