English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Bigfrith

Early-attested site in the Parish of Bisham

Historical Forms

  • Bigefrithe 1247–8 Ass
  • Bigefrid 1275–6 RH
  • Byggefrith, Biggesryth 1284 Ass

Etymology

Bigfrith, Bigefrithe 1247–8Ass (p), Bigefrid 1275–6 RH (p), Byggefrith , Biggesryth 1284Ass (p). Probably 'Bicga's wood', v. fyrhðe ; for the pers.n., which is recorded in DB and occurs as a by-name earlier in the 11th cent., v. Redin 73. The adjective big (not recorded before the 13th cent. but considered by Redin to lie behind the personal name) is perhaps less likely as a first el., since micel is generally employed in this sense in p.ns.