Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Bradeuuelle 1086 DB

• Bradewell(e) 12 Lewes25d 1164–81,l.12,1200–10 YChviii 1271 Lewes292d 1300 Ebor 1324 Lewes299d

• Bradwelle 1147,1173–81 YChviii

• Breithwell(e), Braith(e)well(e), Brayth(e)well(e) 1196–1201 YChviii 1199 Ch 1232 Nost141d 13 Ebor 1242 FF 1301 Ass 1272 Testii 1280 1446

• Braydwelle, Braid(e)welle e.13 RegAlbii,64b 13 Lewes293 Hy3 BM

• Brathewell 1222 Cur 1288 Ebor 1343 Ass6d 1375 YDxiv,89 1409,1441 DiocV 1469 Pat

• Brathwell 1415 Fabr 1531 Testiv

• Braytewell 1246 Ass43d 1247 Ebor

• Braiwell, Braywell 1415 BM 1537,1574 FF

• Breathwell 1559 WillY

• Brewell 1607 FF

Etymology

'Broad well or stream', v. brād , wella . Brade - was eventually replaced by the cognate ON  breiðr; the spellings in Brayd - and Brathe - represent a confusion of the OE and ON forms (cf. also Phonol. §§ 11, 40).