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.

Bardale

Early-attested site in the Parish of Aysgarth

Historical Forms

  • Beredale 1280,1285 YI 1283 Rich

Etymology

Possibly 'Bera's valley' v. dæl . The OE  pers. name Bera may be assumed from Barbury (W), Beranbyrg (ASC). OE  bere seems impossible in this high country.

Professor Ekwall suggests that a probable etymology is ON  bjórr 'a beaver,' giving an ON  Bjóra -dalr , or perhaps still better, a stream-name Bjórá (derived from bjórr ).