Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Borgheredal 1154–89,1175–84 Kendi,231,388

• Borgherdal 1154–89 Ch 1247

• Borgedal 1235 FF

• Borwedale 1282 Kendi,231

• Borghdale 1362 TestKarl

• Boroughdale 1539 Kendi,235

• Borowdale 1523 SheriffAcct

• Borrow(e)dell 1578 RichWill

• Borrow(e)daile 1675 PR(Sh)

• Borrow(e)dale 1609 Comm 1777 M

• Borrodall 1589 PR(Sh)

• Borradell 1594 PR(K)

Etymology

'Valley of the fortification', v. borg 1 (gen.sg. borgar ), dalr , or, as Ekwall suggests (RN 40–1), 'valley of the fort-stream' from ON  Borgar -á , v. á 'river' and Borrow Beck (i, 4supra ). Borrowdale in Stainmore (ii, 75infra ) and Borrowdale (Cu 349) are of similar origin and Lindkvist 7 has noted similar names in Iceland and Norway; cf. also Bordall (IoM, Marstrander 225). The fortification referred to in this name is the Roman fort at Low Borrow Bridge (ii, 51), v. W. G. Collingwood in Sagabook i, 182–196, E. Birley in CW xlvii, 1–19, li, 4off, RCHM 99–101.