Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Shropshire” come from?

Shropshire derives from Old English Sċrobbesbyriġscīr, composed of Old English sċīr meaning shire and burh meaning fortified town, itself from Proto-Germanic burgz and ultimately Proto-Indo-European bʰerǵʰ- meaning to rise or tower.

Shropshire (English): One of an English breed of black-faced hornless...

Definitions

  1. One of an English breed of black-faced hornless...

Ancestry of “Shropshire”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old EnglishSċrobbesbyriġscīr—
2Old Englishsċīrbright; shire; county
3Old Englishburnastream
4Proto-West Germanicbrunnōwell, spring
5Proto-Germanicbrunnôsource; wellspring; fountain; brook; stream;...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰréh₁wr̥well, spring, source
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰrewh₁-to boil; to brew
8Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰer-to bear, carry
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰer- →