Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Borne 1086 DB 1349 Ipm

• Estborne 1364 CplM

• Burne 1086 DB 1114 ASC c.1120

• Burne en le Rap de Peuenesey 1261 Ass

• Burne juxta Peuenesey 1271 Ass

• Estburn 1279 Ass

• Bourne 1302 FA

• Estbourne 1310 Ipm

• Booren t.Eliz CplM

• Boorne 1631 MarL

• Brodeborne (1509 CplM)

• Burnha' 1054 SAC 42, 76

Etymology

Eastbourne was originally named from the Bourne stream (cf. Roger atte Bourne 1327 SR), a perennial stream which rises near the parish church and makes its way (through a culvert now) to the sea, crossing the present Bourne Street. It flowed into Brodeborne (1509CplM ), a pool just inside the shingle bank where the Bourne debouches. Called 'East' when the necessity arose to distinguish it from Westbourne supra 55 but still known locally to the country folk as Bourne . Eastbourne is probably identical with the second Burnham (BCS 553) of King Alfred's will. It was a royal manor TRE. This would agree with the form Burneham found t. Steph (France) and Burnha '1054 SAC 42, 76.