Oorbeek, The Netherlands

Oorbeek is a village in the municipality of Tienen, in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. Oorbeek was an independent municipality until the municipal reorganization of 1971.In 1095, Gualcherus, bishop of Cambrai, relieved the church of Kortenberg of episcopal jurisdiction. The deed is co-signed by Boudewijn van Oorbeek, in Latin Balduini de Orbecca. This attestation contains the oldest form of Oorbeek and also mentions the oldest known inhabitant. Two explanations for the name Oorbeek are possible. The element ear can mean aurochs. Oorbeek, "brook on which aurochs came to drink" is plausible, because of the now disappeared two pools in the village. On the other hand, it is attractive to connect the first paragraph with a lost word primal meaning siliceous sand. Oorbeek would then mean as much as "muddy brook".

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