Bebbanburg

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A royal fortress on the Northumbrian coast, the ancient seat of the kings of Bernicia and the origin of the modern Bamburgh Castle
2. The legendary stronghold of the Anglo-Saxon kings of Bernicia, sited on the rocky Northumbrian shore where Bamburgh Castle now stands
3. An ancient Northumbrian royal seat on the coast of England, the fortified site that later became known as Bamburgh Castle

Etymology: Bebbanburg was the Old English name of the fortress on the Northumberland coast now called Bamburgh Castle. Medieval writers said it was named after Queen Bebba, a royal woman of the Bernician kings, and the name is a plain compound. The second element, "burh", meant a fortified place. It survives in English "borough" and in place names ending in "-bury". The first half of the name was a personal name, which is typical of English place names where a ruler or family gave a stronghold its title. Over the centuries the spelling and pronunciation wore down, so "Bebbanburh" became the modern "Bamburgh", with the "Beb" sound shifting to "Bam".