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.

Horsebear

Early-attested site in the Parish of Petworth

Historical Forms

  • Hersebere, Horsebere 1279 Ass

Etymology

Horsebear (6″) is Hersebere , Horsebere 1279Ass (p). The forms are scanty but it would seem that the first is a bad one and that the elements are hors and bære , hence, 'woodland pasture where horses are grazed.'