Billingshurst
Major Settlement in the Parish of Billingshurst
Historical Forms
- Bellingesherst 1202 Cur
- Billingeherst, Billyngeherst, Byllyngeherst 1225 FF 1293 Ipm 1397 IpmR
- Billingehurst 1240 FF 1284–96,1312 Ipm 1327 SR
- Billingeshurst, Billyngeshurst 1249 FF 1332 SR 1357 Ipm 1379 IpmR
- Billingeshursh 1291 Tax
- Bullyngeshurst 1288 Ass
- Bullynghurst 1444 Cicestr
- Byllynggshurst 1425 Pens
- Billinghurst 1711 MarL
Etymology
'The wood of Billing ' or 'of Billa 's people.' From earliest times there seems to have been hesitation between the two forms, v. hyrst . It should be noted that there was also a Billingabyrig in early times in the west of the county (BCS 144).The forms in Bull - are difficult to explain, cf. however Bidlington infra 223. They do not perhaps occur early or persistently enough to make one think that we have the same pers. name as in Bilsham supra 145.