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.

Boship Fm

Early-attested site in the Parish of Hellingly

Historical Forms

  • Boureship 1442 Ct
  • Bowreship 1553 BM
  • Bowershipp 1565 SAC14,235
  • Boreship green 1807 FM
  • Boarship 1823 G

Etymology

Boship Fm is Boureship 1442Ct , Bowreship 1553 BM, Bowershipp 1565 SAC 14, 235, Boreship green 1807FM , Boarship 1823 G. This name is a very interesting historical survival of the OE  gebūrscipe , a term used in the Laws of Edward the Elder, denoting apparently some association or community of peasants (OE  gebūr ). A further example is found in terr. voc. Bowership in Crowhurst in Burwash (1610Ct ).