Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Belesbi 1086 DB c.1115 LS 1130 P 1180 1188,1190,1191all(p) a1191 Dane 1192,1193etfreqto1200 P 1200 Cur c.1200 RAiv c.1200 Dane 1201 P 1202 HarlCh 1259 Ipm

• Belesbia 1212 Fees

• Belesb' 1185 Templar 1227 ClR 1238–43 Fees

• Belesby l12 NCot m13 Ass 1202 FF 1205 OblR 1206 Welles 1219 Cur 1222 Ch 1231 FF 1231 Fees 1242–43 FF 1250 Cl 1252 ValNor 1254 Ass 1272 RH 1276 QW 1281 HarlCh 1284 Tax 1291 Pat 1295 Ipm 1304 Pat 1549

• Belesbye 1576 Saxton 1610 Speed

• Belesbie 1591 Beelsby

• Bilesbi 1086 DB

• Bellesby 1234 FF 1235 IB 1327 SR 1553 Pat

• Belysby 1242–43 Fees

• Belisby 1296 AD 1328 Banco 1346 Pat 1364 Cl 1526 Sub

• Belebi 1198 Cur 1202 Ass 1202,1203 P

• Beleby 1268 Ch 1291 Tax

• Billesby 1331 Pat 1519 DV

• Byllesby 1535 VEiv

• Bylisby 1397 Pat

• Bylisbe 1498 ib

• Bylsby 1538 LPxiii

• Beylesby 1539–40 Dugdvi

• Beilesby 1626 FLIrnham

• Bielsby 1576 LER

• Beelesby 1601 Terrier

• Beelsbie 1647 Td'E

• Beelsby 1673,1690 Terrier 1698 FLIrnham

Etymology

According to Ekwall, DEPN s.n., this is 'Beli's farm, village', from the ON  pers.n. Beli and bȳ. Fellows-Jensen, SSNEM 35 s.n., points out that this is a very rare Scand. pers.n., though it is found in later 12th and 13th century sources in L, v. SPNLY 51–52. She further points out that the first el. has secondary OE  gen.sg. in -es .