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.

Barnsdale

Early-attested site in the Parish of South Kirkby

Historical Forms

  • Chronicle, Barnysdale ryg 1468 Brett
  • Barnesdale 1543 Leland 1609 Bright

Etymology

Barnsdale, the merry Barnisdale of the Robin Hood ballads, Barnysdale c. 1420 Wyntoun's Chronicle , Barnysdale ryg 1468 Brett, Barnesdale 1543 Leland, 1609Bright 521. 'Beorn's valley', v. dæl . The OE  pers.n. Beorn occurs also in Barnsley i, 302supra .