Boscombe
Major Settlement in the Parish of Boscombe
Historical Forms
- Boscumbe 1086 DB
- Boscumba, Boscumbe t.Hy2 Ch 1270 NQi 1170–5 BM 1178
- Bescumba t.Hy2 Ch 1270
- Bascumbe c.1180 BM
- Borrescumb' 1256 Cl
- Borscumbe 1275 RH 1281,1306 Ass
- Borscombe 1327 Banco 1332 SR
- Borescumbe 1302 Ass
- Borescombe 1364 Cl 1535 VE
- Borscome 1537 PCC
Etymology
The first element may be the OE word *bors , postulated for Boasley (PN D 174), denoting something of a spiky or bristly nature. Cf. Borsle (1362Cor ) in Trowbridge and Boseleys in Bromham infra 492. The name would have reference to a combe or valley overgrown with such plants, v. cumb .