Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Burhbece, (andlang) burgbeces 961 BCS1067 c.1225

• Burhbec c.1000 KCD1312 c.1225

• (wið) byr bæces 968 BCS1213 c.1225

• (wið) burhbeces 968 c.1250 ib

• Buberge (sic) 1086 DB

• Burbetc(e), Burbed 1086 DB

• Burbecha 1139 SarumCh

• Burbech(e) 1158 HMCVari 1227 Ch

• Burbach(e) 1177 SarumCh 1211 RBE 1242 Fees 1249 Ass 1286 Ipm

• Burbachesauvage 1321 Cl

• Burebech(e) t.Hy3 Stowe 1246 Orig

• Burebach(e) 1246 Cl 1262 FF

• Borebache 1229 StOsmund 1242 Fees

• Borbache 1286 FF 1296 Ipm

• Burgbeche 1249 Ass

• Bourbache 1262 FF 1332 SR 1339 Ipm

• Bourebache 1339 FF

• Burbage 1353 FF

• Berbage 1503 Pat

• Burbidge, Burbadge 1585 WMxxi

• Burbatch 1646 FF

Etymology

The first and third forms refer to a place called Burbage, the second is found in the bounds of Burbage as set forth in the Abingdon Cartulary, the fourth and fifth in the bounds of Bedwyn in the same cartulary. The first element in the name is clearly burh. There is no burh here now. Professor Ekwall suggests that the reference may be to the eorðburh mentioned just before byrbæces in BCS 1213, but Grundy (ii, 78) identifies that almost certainly with Godsbury (infra 346), and it is a far cry from Godsbury to Burbage. Traces of the burh may however survive in the name Burghstrete sometimes applied to the road along which Burbage lies. The second element is probably bæce , bece , 'stream.' The boundary of Burbage and of Bedwyn (which must then have included part of Easton) at the points indicated in BCS 1067 and 1213 runs (respectively) down and up a small stream in a slight depression, and this is doubtless the bæce . In EPN the second element was taken to be bæc , 'ridge,' but Professor Ekwall notes the difficulty that the boundary runs along the valley and not along the prominent ridge on which Burbage itself lies. Burbage (Lei) has the same forms as this Burbage but is on the top of a prominent hill and we should probably still associate that with bæc . There are two Burbages in Db. The forms in PN Db (s. n .) really refer to Burbage in Padley and not to Burbage on Wye. It lies by a stream. The Pipe Roll form in DEPN is from a personal name and may refer to either.