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.

Barrow

Major Settlement in the Parish of Barrow

Historical Forms

  • Berc 1197(p),1206 Cur 1208 FF 1296 SR 1319 Pat
  • Berk 1263 Ass 1276 RH 1319 Pat
  • Bergh 1316 Ipm 1322 FF 1327 SR 1428 FA
  • Berugh 1324 FF 1329 Deed
  • Berogh' 1417 ib
  • Berew(e) 1305 Deed 1376,1403 Cl 1405 FF
  • Beruwe 1362 Deed
  • Bargh 1485 Deed
  • Barow 1510 Deed
  • Barrowe 1535 VE 1539 LP 1553 Pat 1610 Speed
  • Borowe 1522 Rut

Etymology

'The burial mound', v. beorg . Barrow village stands at the crest of a steep hillside which rises to 480 ft above sea-level. At the hill crest near The Green is a tumulus which was once clearly visible from the valley bottom. It was no doubt this tumulus rather than the hillside which gave Barrow its name, v. VCH 2120.

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site