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.

Habberley

Early-attested site in the Parish of Kidderminster

Historical Forms

  • Harburgelei 1086 DB
  • Haberlega, Haberley(e), Haburley 1183 P 1275 SR 1319 Ipm 1333 FF 1425 IpmR 1550 Pat

Etymology

This is probably the 'clearing of a woman named Hēahburh .'If that is the case, the first r in the DB form must be an error due to anticipation of the r later in the word. The name Hereburh seems to be ruled out by the early and persistent a and the improbable early disappearance of r involved in this explanation.