Peterborough
Major Settlement in the Parish of Peterborough
Historical Forms
- Burg 1086 DB
- Burh c. 1115 Dugd i, 390
- Medeshamstede qui modo Burg dicitur 12th Ord
- Petreburgh 1333 Cl, 1385 Pat
- Peterburgh 1397 Cl
- Petirburgh 1401 Cl
- Borowe Seynt Per' 1378 AD vi
- Borough Seynt Peter 1571 AD v
- Petreborow 1512 LP
- Peterborough al. Borough Saynt Peter 1588 Recov
- Peeterborrow 1657 NRS i
Etymology
According to Bede the site of the original monastery here was known as Medeshamstedi (c. 750). Medeshamstede is the form in the numerous forged OE charters from 680 onwards (BCS 48, 271, 464, 1128).
On the rebuilding of the monastery after the Danish invasions (v. Introd. xiii) the place came to be known as Burg or Burgh , probably in the sense of 'fortified town.' Early ME forms are Burg 1086 DB, Burh c. 1115 Dugd i, 390, Burc 1155, Burch 1167 P, Medeshamstede qui modo Burg dicitur 12th Ord. The usual official spelling in medieval documents is villa or Abbas de Burgo or de Burgo Sancti Petri or Sancti Petri de Burg (o ) from the dedication of the Abbey. The modern form has been noted first as Petreburgh 1333 Cl, 1385 Pat, Peterburgh 1397 Cl, Petirburgh 1401 Cl. Later spellings of interest are: Borowe Seynt Per '1378 AD vi, Borough Seynt Peter 1571 AD v, Petreborow 1512 LP, Peterborough al. Borough Saynt Peter 1588Recov , Peeterborrow 1657 NRS i.
For the older name Professor Ekwall notes that in ASC (s. a. 654) we are told that Medeshamstede was named from Medeswæl . In this name wæl is OE wǣl , 'pool,' probably a pool in the Nene. He suggests that the first element in both names is an OE *Mēde , a derivative of the element Mōd -, common in OE names, and equivalent to the OHG Muotine (Förstemann, PN 1128).