Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• castellum de Sco' Briauel(l), villa de Sco' Briauel(l), Briavel(l), Sco' Briavello, Sco' Briavelli 1130,1165 P 1205 ClR 1220 Cur 1220 Fees 1221 Ass 1234 Cl 1535 VE

• Seynt(e) Briavell, Saynt Briavell, St Briavell, Bryavell 1486 Ipm 1560 FF

• Bryavelles 1555 ib

• Bryavells 1603 GlR

• Bryavills 1662 Comm

• Sanctus Brievellus 1207 Cur

• Sanctum Breyvel 1241 RBE

• vill' de Sco' Breuell(o), Breuelli 1248 Ass 1274 RH c.1275,1282 For 1306 Ass

• St Brevel(l), Saynt Brevel(l), Seynt Brevel(l), Breuel(l) 1269 FF Ed1 BM 1490 Pat

• Seynt Brevellys, Seynt Brevellis, Seynt Brevell(e)s 1483 Pat 1495 FF 1642 Comm

• Brevell c.1560 Surv

• Sancto Briuello c.1275 For

• Briuell' 1378 Ass

• Sanctum Breauell' 1320,1385 Ass

Etymology

Named from a Welsh  saint; Briafael was the baptismal name of St Brioc or Brieuc, who was possibly a native of Carmarthenshire (cf. Owen, History of Pembroke iii, 188). The name is the early Welsh  pers.n. Briauail (Land); this may also be the source of the ME  pers.n. Breval , which occurs in Winchcomb (c. 1200 WinchLB i, 36, 38, 231).