Beverston
Major Settlement in the Parish of Beverston
Historical Forms
- æt Byferes stane 1048 ASC 12
- Beurestane 1086 DB 1194 P
- Beuerstan, Beverstan 1236 Fees
- Beverston 1287 Ass 1303 FA 1337 Ch
- Beouereston 1346 FF
- Beuerstan(e), Beverstan(e) 1154 Berk 1220 Fees 1221 Ass 1269 Ipm 1287 Ass 1304 FA
- Beverston(e) c.1175 France 13 Glouc 1274 RH 1764 PR
- Berneston 1215 ClR
- Bernestan 1292 Ch
Etymology
'Beaver's stone', v. beofor (byfer), stān . The village stands on high ground and there is no water about, which beavers need. The name may therefore refer to some stone thought to resemble a beaver or contain the word as a pers.n.; Ekwall, Early London Personal Names 139 and Reaney 27 give ME examples of a byname; Mawer (MLR xiv, 233 ff) has discussed and illustrated this type of pers.n. from animal-names (cf. also Tengvik 358 ff).