Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Horberie, Orberie 1086 DB

• Horebir', Horebiri, Horebyri 12 Fount 1164–85,1196–1202 YChviii 13 1233–40 YChviii 1238–54 ADi

• Horbir', Horbyr' 1147 YChviii l.12 Lewes300d 1206 FF 1208 P 1243 Fees 1297 LS

• Horberia 1176 P

• Horbiri, Horbiry, Horbyry 12 Riev 1189 Pont 13 YDviii a.1218 YChviii 1251 Ass 1269 FF 1275 WCR 1577 Holinshed

• Horbery 1301 DodsN

• Horbero 1379 PT

• Orib'a 1164–96 YChviii

• Hordbir' 1204 Ass

• Horbury 1329 ADi 1366 FF 1416–1479 DodsN 1510 Testv

• Horubury 1316 Vill

Etymology

'Fortification on the dirty land', v. horu , burh . The present town stands on a hill, but the name may have described some fortification nearer the river Calder; there is a Castle Hill on the lower ground near an old ford which crosses the Calder. This is one of the few YW examples of burh used in the dat.sg. byrig , as in Dewsbury 184, Stanbury iii, 269infra ; it is a use more characteristic of the midlands than the north (cf. EPN i, 58, Introd.).