Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Barnesburc (sic) 1185–93 YCh1651

• Barnebu 1191 YCh 1194 P 1258 YI 1291 Skyr

• Barnebou 1302 YI

• Barnebo 1402 FA

• Bernbou 1327 SR

• Barnebogh(e) 1257–85 YDii 1292,1323 MinAcct 1348 FF 1424 Rent

• Barnbogh 1341 Surv

• Barnebough 1350 Skyr 1358 MinAcct

• Barnebowe 1341 Surv 1368,1548,1605 FF

• Barnbow(e) 1324 YDv 1456 YDi 1666 Visit

• Barm(e)bowe 1563,1590 WillY 1595 FF 1613 BM

Etymology

Most of the spellings suggest that the second el. is ON  bú 'homestead' rather than boga 'bow, arch', though the latter has influenced some of the forms in -bogh (e ); hence 'Bjarni's homestead'. On the ON  pers.n. Bjarni and its ME  form Barne - cf. Barnby Dun i, 17supra and Phonol. § 14.