Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Beadewan c.975 ASWills

• (to) beadewan ea 1062 KCD813 12th

• Baduuen 1086 DB

• Badewen(na) 1163–9,1189 BM 1172–81 Derby

• Badewin Parva 1235 Ass

• Badewe Magna 1274 RH

• Badue 1212 RBE 1219 Cl 1255 Ass 1280 Ipm

• Baduhe 1236 Fees

• Badewey t.Ed1 FA

• Badowe Graunt p.1420 FA

• Mykell Badowe 1475–80 ECP

• Lyttle Badowe 1545 LP

• Badoo 1540 ib

• Bedowe 1306 Cl

• Bedewe 1445 Pat

Etymology

This is an old name of the Chelmer (cf. Walter Hall infra 239).The etymology is difficult and the name looks like a derivative of OE  beadu , gen. beadwe , 'battle,' i.e. 'the battle river.'“Formally this is all right, but such a name would be absolutely without English parallels, and I hesitate to accept it” (Ekwall RN 23). The name might be of Celtic origin, 'the birch stream,' or it might correspond to OIr Bodb , MIr Badb , 'a war-goddess,' modified under the influence of OE  beadu . Cf. the R. Dee (Ch), 'the goddess' or 'the holy one (river),' with its alternative Welsh name Aerfen , 'the goddess of war.' v. RN 118. It is clear from the DB and other forms that the final an , en is not inflexional but part of the name itself.