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.

Melbourne Ho

Early-attested site in the Parish of Bratton

Historical Forms

  • Milebourne, on Mulbourne ewelmen 968 BCS1215 15th
  • Muleburne t.Hy3 Edington 1304 FF 1310 Ass 1332 SR
  • Mulleburne 1289 Ass
  • Melbourn 1361 Pat

Etymology

Melbourne Ho (6″) is Milebourne , on Mulbourne ewelmen 968 (15th) BCS 1215, Muleburne t. Hy 3Edington , 1304FF , 1310Ass , 1332SR , Mulleburne 1289Ass , Melbourn 1361 Pat. 'Mill stream,' v. myln , burna . ewelmen is OE  æwielm , 'source,' cf. Ewen supra 60–1. Hoare (57) notes that the meeting of two springs here was anciently called Ewelm .