Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Chesigeberie 1086 DB

• Chesingbiria 1202 FF

• Chesingebiria 1211 RBE

• Chesingebyre 1230 SarumCh

• Chesingebir' 1250 Rental

• Chesingbir' Prioris, manor of Chesingbur' voc. Folye, villa de Chesingebir' qui dicitur la Folye 1275 RH

• Chessburia 1285 BM

• Westchesyngebur', Estchesyngebur' 1289 Ass

• Chisingburi 1202 FF

• Chisingebiry 1211 RBE

• Chisingebur 1227 Ch

• Chisingebir' 1252 FF

• Chysyngbury 1304 Ass

• Westchisingbury 1313 FF

• Chisenbury de la Folly 1544–53 ECP

• Chisonbury Dallyfolly 1689 Recov

• Chusynbury t.Ed1 Edington

• Chusseburia 1285 BM

• Westchusyngebury 1289 FF

• Chusyngbury 1304 Ass

Etymology

This is probably from OE  cisingabyrig (dat.), 'burhof the dwellers on the cis or gravel.' The sub-soil here is gravelly (WM xlvi, 7) and Chisenbury Camp, an old earthwork, stands near by. This is called Chisenbury Trendle , i.e. 'circle,' in 1812 (RCH). According to Hoare (16–17) East Chisenbury or Chisenbury Priors belonged to the Priory of Ogbourne (W).Already in 1202 (FF) Roger de la Folie held the manor of West Chisenbury or Chisenbury Folly.