Beeston St Lawrence
Major Settlement in the Parish of Beeston St Lawrence
Historical Forms
- Bestone 1044–7 (13 Sawyer 1055) KCD 785
- Besetuna 1086 DB l.13 Holme
- Besetona 1153–68 Holme 1166 RBE
- Besenton 1184 P
- Bieston 1203 FF
- Biestona 1219 ib
- Beston(e) 1134–49,1183 Holme 1233to1396 Pat 1250to1286 Ass 1254–75 Val 1295 IpmR 1314to1428 FF 1316,1346,1401–2 FA 1317 Bodl 1330 SR 1339 AD
- Beestone 1146–9 Holme
- Beeston Parva 1365 Inq
- Beeston 1535 VE
- Besenton 1184 P
Etymology
There are at least eight Beestons in England, four of which are in Nf. Seven have the second el. tūn, one (Beeston in Ch) contains the second el. stān . The first el. is best explained as a conjectural *bēos 'bent grass', the equivalent of MLG bēse , MDu biese , ModDu bies (from *beusō ). The form Besenton 1184 P would seem to point to an adj. *bēosen 'overgrown with bent'. v. Ekwall in Studies1 54 ff. The church is dedicated to St Lawrence.
John de Leems held here and in Barton the manor of Beeston Leames in 3 Hy4 (1401–2), v. Blomefield XI14.