Oldberrow
Major Settlement in the Parish of Oldberrow
Historical Forms
- Ulenbeorge 709 BCS124 c.1200
- Ulbeorge 714 BCS130 16th
- Oleberge 1086 DB
- Ulleberga 1190 P
- Ulleberwe 13th ChronEve 1307 Wigorn
- Huleberge 1252 Ch
- Hullesbarewe 1265 Misc
- Hulleberwe 1275 SR
- Ulleburwe, Houleburewe 1280 For
- Ouleberewe 1305 Wigorn
- Ulleberewe 1311,1369 Pat
- Olbarwe 1321 ADii
- Olberewe 1327 SR
- Ollebarewe 1340 NI
- Ulbarewe 1346 FA
- Wolbarowe 1535 VE 1542 LP
- Owlbarrow 1545 Wills
- Owburrow 1622 WillsP
Etymology
The first element is doubtless the same as that found in ulanwyllan in the same charter as Ulenbeorge and in the neighbouring Ullenhall (Wa). The triple occurrence of this first element in the names of three not very distant objects is in favour of a pers. name rather than the bird-name ūle , 'owl,' but we have no definite evidence for a pers. name Ūla in OE though there is a possibility of a parallel in OGer, cf. Förstemann PN 1476. The later forms show hesitation between Ull - with trisyllabic shortening and retention of the long vowel under the influence of owl itself. The second element is beorg , hence 'owl-hill' or 'Ula 's hill.'