Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Berebrun(e), Berebrunna, Berebrunne 1086 DB 1190–1210 Cockers 1195 P 1195 FF 1196 P 1220–46 Cockers 1246–68 1253 AD45 1434 Pap

• Berebunn' 1197 P

• Bereburne 1279 Ass7 1292 QW 1332 SR

• Berebronne 1310 Pat

• Berburn(e) 1187–1200 Kendii,115 1242 Pipe 1247 Lanc 1256 Ass1 1279 1283 Ipm 1461 Pat

• Berbrun(e) 1250–68 Cockers 1279 Ass10 1537 CockersRent

• Berbourne 1340 Kendi,267

• Berberon 1434 Pap

• Berbrunne 1501 CockersRent

• Berchbrun 1279 Ass14

• Berghburn 1292 ib

• Barburn 16 Kendii,9

• Barborne 16 AOMB

• Barbron 1518 Kendi,190

• Barboron 1550 Views

• Barbronne als. Barbonne 1566 FF

• Barbon(n) 1609 PR(K) 1650 ParlSurv 1738 Rent1

Etymology

Possibly 'stream of the bear', from OE  bera and burna, alternating with ON  brunnr. The rare OE  pers.n. Bera is also possible; cf. Barford (Bd 50–1) for the use of bera 'bear' and Bera in p.ns. Ekwall notes that in an earlier period the Romans drew on Britain for their supply of bears. The evidence for the survival of the bear later than Roman times is, however, very doubtful, and what there is relates to Caledonia; there appears to be none for its survival as late as the 8th or 9th centuries in the north of England (cf. J. E. Harting, British Animals Extinct within Historical Times (London 1880) 11 ff). The name is therefore more likely to be 'beaver stream' from ON  bjórr and brunnr ; on the survival of the beaver, cf. Harting, op. cit. 33 ff.Cf. Bardale (YN 263). Barbourne (Wo 110) is an English name of similar meaning. The two forms in Berch -, Bergh - would suggest the first el. is be(o)rg 'hill', but these must be errors, as that word, although it could give ME  ber - in such a compound, is unlikely to have produced the predominant earliest spellings in Bere -.