South Yorkshire Times and Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 30 November 1883
The Origin of Conisborough
I recently heard an amusing description of the word “Conisborough” from a native of that pretty little village. I ventured to suggest that he was inclined to “royal town,” and read the following lines in support of my contention:—
“William, the first Earl of Warren, was at the time of making the General Survey (Domesday) possessed of two hundred lordships in several counties of England, whereof Conisboro’ was one, which had twenty-eight towns or hamlets in its jurisdiction.”
He smiled rather contemptuously at this, and said he knew better, and that the name of the village was composed of two words “conies” and “a burrow.” He also stated (how on earth he obtained his information I can’t say) that in ancient times the village was overrun with rabbits, and their burrows were to be observed in every direction.
“Any schoolboy knows,” he said, “that Conisboro’ is really an abbreviation of ‘Conies-burrow.’”
As the individual to whom I was speaking seemed to know so much a “better-dying individual the ‘oldest inhabitant,’” I wisely withdrew, and left him alone in his glory.