Silburn Family History

From Selborne (Hants), which is recorded as Seleburne in 1201, or another place similarly named such as Silesbourne Farm in Wootton Wawen (Warwicks), which is recorded as Sillebourne in 1457 and Seliborne or Selborne in about 1500.

The Hants place-name derives from Old English salh ‘willow sallow’ + burna ‘spring stream’. The origin of the Warwicks place-name is uncertain due to a lack of medieval forms, though it appears to have Old English burna as the final element.

Some of the post-medieval bearers may alternatively belong with (2), a variant of Silabon (from Middle English Selibarn), remodelled by folk etymology as if from a place-name containing Old English burna ‘spring stream’.