Risborough

Recorded in several spellings including Riseborough, Risborough, Risbrough, Risebrow and originally Riseberghe, this is a medieval English locational surname. It originates from the twin villages of Monks and Princes Risborough in the county of Buckinghamshire, as shown by the first recording below. According to the Oxford Dictionary of English place names, the translation of Risborough is the hill (burgh) covered by heather, from the pre 7th century word "hrisen." The prefix Princes refers to the famous Edward, the Black Prince, who held the manor in the 14th century, whilst Monks Risborough belonged to the monastery of Christchurch, Canterbury. Locational surnames were usually names given either to the lord of the manor and his descendants, or to former inhabitants who left their original homes and moved somewhere else. Spelling being at best erratic and local dialects very thick, lead to the creation of "sounds like" spellings. The first known recording is believed to be that of Thomas de Riseberghe of Buckinghamshire in the 20th year of the reign of King Edward 1st. The surname seems to have been particulary popular in the county of Norfolk. Examples include Elizabeth Riseborow of Aylesham in 1698, whilst John Riseborough also recorded as Risebrow and Riseborow, was the sheriff of the city of Norwich, in 1704.