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.

Holmbury St Mary and Holmbury Hill

Early-attested site in the Parish of Shere with Gomshall

Historical Forms

  • Holmbury 1610 Speed
  • Hombery Hill 1625 Ct

Etymology

Holmbury St Mary and Holmbury Hill is Homebery t. Hy 5, Hombery 1435, Hombur 't. Ed 4Ct , Holmbury 1610 Speed, Hombery Hill 1625Ct . The name seems to be a compound of ham and burh , but the exact meaning of the compound is difficult to determine. Cf. Holmwood infra 271. The burh is clearly the ancient camp on Holmbury Hill. St Mary from the dedication of the modern church here.