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.

Malmesbury

Major Settlement in the Parish of Malmesbury

Historical Forms

  • Mealdumesburg 675 BCS 14th
  • Meldunesburg 681 14th 844 14th ib
  • Maeldunesburg 892 14th ib
  • Maeldubesburg 683 14th ib
  • Maldumesburuh 701 BCS106 10th
  • Maldumesburg 956 14th 974 KCD632 14th BCS 982 14th c.1125
  • Maildufi urbs c.730 Bede
  • in Maldubiensi monasterio 758 BCS185 14th
  • Maldubia civitate c.770 Boniface 9th
  • Maildubiensis æcclesia c.1125 BCS569
  • (ad) Maldunense monasterium 745 14th ib
  • Maelduburi, Malduberi 892 14th ib
  • Mailduberi c.1125 ib
  • Meldulfuensis Burgi 934 15th ib
  • Meldulfesbirg c.1125 ib
  • Maldulfes burgh c.1000 OEBede
  • Maldelmesburuh 974 BCS1301 14th
  • Maldmesbyrig c.1050 BurghalHidage
  • (into) Mealdælmæsbyrig, Mealdelmesbyrig 10th ASWills c.1150 ASC 1015 c.1120
  • Ealdelmesbyrig 1015 ASC c.1050
  • Malmesberie 1086 DB
  • Mamesberie 1086 DB
  • Mamesbur' 1198 Abbr
  • monasterium quod Meldum religiosæ memoriæ condidit, quod etiam nunc Meldumesburg vocatur c. 1125 WMP
  • Maumesberi 1200 Cur
  • Maumesbir 1201 FF
  • Mawmesbiri 1252 Ch
  • Mamsbury 1652, 1737 FF

Etymology

A shortened form æt Meldum is recorded in BCS 106 (10th).Forms from coins include Maldmes , Maid , Meald 979–1016, Mealdmes , Mealmes , Meald , Mealm , Meal , Meale , Melmes , Melme 1016–66, Malme , Malm 1066–1100. Post-Conquest forms of interest are monasterium quod Meldum religiosæ memoriæ condidit , quod etiam nunc Meldumesburg vocatur c. 1125 WMP, Maumesberi 1200 Cur, Maumesbir 1201 FF, Mawmesbiri 1252 Ch, Mamsbury 1652, 1737FF .

According to William of Malmesbury the monastery here was founded by one Mailduf or Maildulf , an Irishman. This is the OIr  personal name Maeldub or Maildub , meaning 'black prince or chief,' from maglo -, 'prince,' and dubo -, 'black' (cf. Mod Gaelic dubh , Welsh du ). St Aldhelm was once abbot of Malmesbury, and, as suggested by Plummer (Bede, Historia Ecclesiastica ii, 311), the modern form of the name is due to confusion between Ealdhelm and Mailduf . It should be noted that the forms from Bede and St Boniface, coming from 8th-century documents preserved in good texts are really much earlier and more valuable than any of those which precede them.