[1] The name is known from 1178 as Esbiornsthorp, derived from the male name Esbiorn (Esben) and the suffix -thorp.

[2] Other villages in the parish of Esbønderup were Esrum (1100: Esrom), Saltrup (1359: Salthorp), Villingebæk (1100: Widelingbec) and Villingerød 1178: Withlingeruth).

Kronborg County Hospital (Kronborg Amtssygehus) opened in 1866 at the initiative of Friederich Carl von Gram, two years before Frederiks Hospital opened in Copenhagen.

It was reserved for the residents of the market town while those of the rural parishes belonged to the County Hospital in Esbønderup.

The old village, also referred to as Kirke Esbønderup, consisting mainly of houses from the 19th century, is located in the northern part of town.