Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Brichesherd 1171–81 YCh1270

• Brikesert, Brykesert 13 YDxii,305

• Brykesherith l.13 ib

• Brikeserd 1297 LS

• Brikesherth 1366 Hlm

• Brikeserthe 1383 Ipm

• Brekeshert 13 Ch 1316

• Brekesherth 1345 FF 1416 YI 1440 SheffMan 1451 FA 1452 Norf 1480 Comp 1533 FF

• Briksard 1379 PT 1520 FF

• Brykferth (sic for -s-) 1523 Wheat

• Berkesherthe 1537 FF

• Bresterd 1545 FF

• Brigside Byerlawe 1559 WillY

• Brekesherth & Bryghtsyde 1574 FF

• Brixharth als. Brightsyde 1587 ib

• Brekesherth alias Bixerd (sic) alias Brightside Byerley 1611 ib

• Brightsharthe alias Bryxerd alias Brightside Byerley 1615 FF

• Brightside, Brightsyde 1576 WillY 1577 FF 1585 NCWills 1822 Langd

• Brightside Byrlowe 1576 WillY

• Brightside Byerlawe 1616 Sheff-Man

• Brightside Byerley 1638 SessnR 1641 Rates

• Briksie 1577 Holinshed

• Britheside 1647 PRWath

Etymology

Goodall 85 (followed by Ekwall, DEPN), on the evidence of the 1574 form (Brekesherth & Bryghtsyde ), holds that the earlier Brikesherth is not identical with Brightside. But the Feet of Fines in this period frequently give an older and a modern form, sometimes several variants of the same name; the other forms cited also from FF clearly show that the 1574 form merely has et instead of the usual alias ; it is also remarkable that Brekesherth should cease to occur in documents just about the period when Brightside first comes into use. The identity seems unquestionable, and Brightside is merely an attempt to make something intelligible of an unintelligible name.Brightside is usually taken to be from a pers.n. Brik (from OE  Brihtric ) and OE  erð 'ploughed land', but the form of the elements is not certain. The persistence of early spellings with -herth makes it probable that the second element is OE  heorð 'a hearth', and although this word is not independently recorded with a technical meaning of 'a smith's hearth' before the late fourteenth century or 'part of a puddling furnace' before the seventeenth (NED s.v.), it would be appropriate both for the early spellings and the sense, especially in this old centre of iron smelting. The earlier spellings of the first el. suggest an OE  Brices with the frequent Brekes - due to lengthening of -i - in the open syllable (cf. Phonol. § 23). Bric , whatever its ultimate origin, would be a strong form of the OE  pers.n. Brica which is thought to occur in Brickendon Hrt 218 and Brigden Sx  478, and as a derivative Bricel in Brixworth Nth 122. In connexion with the substitution of Bright - in the spellings it must be remembered that the local pronunciation of that word is [bri:t] and would therefore be readily confused with the [bri:k] from ME  Brēke . v. býjar-lǫg and cf. Brampton Bierlow 106supra .