as extending along 'the river of Burne Ee to Godramscote' in a commission of Sewers held at Hempringingham in Queen Elisabeth's time. The French-seeming spelling Eau is not unique in English river names. It appears to have arisen in the eighteenth century. The older spelling was Ea, from Old English ǣ (ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European *hakʷā- "(moving) water"), see also Aach (toponymy) for more detail. Bourne "stream" is from Old English burne, burna ("spring, fountain"). See also AA Bourne-Morton Canal Bibliography References External links History and Photos of river work on the Eau Local history web site Bourne Town Community Website Rivers of Lincolnshire Bourne, Lincolnshire