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.

Bilbrough

Major Settlement in the Parish of Bilbrough

Historical Forms

  • Mileburg (sic) 1086 DB
  • Billingeburgh 1246 Ass14d
  • Bileburc, Byleburc, Byleburg a.1166 YChvi 1168 P 1259 Ass 1310 Ch
  • Billeburc, Bylleburc, Bylleburg(h) 1167 P 1242 FF 1244,1278 YI 1286 Ebor
  • Bilburg(h), Bylburg(h), Bylburche 1255 YI 1260 FF 1276 RH Ed1 BM 1409 DiocV
  • Bylburght 1535 Star
  • Bylbrough 1588 WillY

Etymology

'Bil(l)a's fortification', v. burh . On this OE pers.n. v. Bilham i, 86supra . It is found also in Bilton (248infra ) some 4 miles from Bilbrough. There is no trace of any fortified place here, but the village is near the Roman road from York to Tadcaster.