Salisbury
The origin and history of Salisbury.
Etymology
From Middle English Saresbury, from Old English *Searesbyriġ, Searobyriġ, Searoburh, from searu (“armor”) via folk etymology + byriġ, burh (“stronghold”), partial translation of British Latin Sorviodūnum, Sorbiodōnum, from *sorwjo-, *sorbjo- of unknown Celtic origin, possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *srew- (“to flow”) (compare Proto-Celtic *srutom (“a stream”)) + Proto-Celtic *dūnom (“stronghold”). Dissimilation of -r- to -l- is the result of influence from Salesbury in Lancashire, from sealh (“willow”) + burh (“stronghold”). The naming of the village in New Brunswick is not entirely certain. It may be named after explorer John Salusbury (1707 - 1762) or after Salisbury in England. The civil parish in New Brunswick is named after the village. The former capital of Rhodesia was named after Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury (1830–1903) who served three times as Prime Minister of Great Britain.