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.

Bilswick

Early-attested site in the Parish of Bristol

Historical Forms

  • Billeswik(e), Bylleswik(e), Bylleswyk(e), Bylleswick(e) 1232 Ch 1230–2 Mrk 1268 Episc 1274 Ipm 1540 MinAcct
  • Bileswik 1248 FF
  • Belleswycke, Belleswick 1497,1543 AOMB
  • Byllyswyke als. les Gaunts 1541 LP

Etymology

Bilswick (lost), Billeswik (e ), Bylleswik (e ), Bylleswyk (e ), Bylleswick (e )1232 Ch, 1230–2 Mrk, 1268 Episc, 1274 Ipmet passim to 1540MinAcct , Bileswik 1248FF , Belleswycke , Belleswick 1497, 1543AOMB , Byllyswyke als. les Gaunts 1541 LP. 'Bill's dairy-farm', from the OE  pers.n. Bil (l ), v. wīc .Bilswick was to the west of the old city in the neighbourhood of St Augustine's Abbey and Gaunts Hospital (84, 93supra ).