Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Berewis, Berewys 1190 Lowth 1242 FF 1256 Ass 1286 CWxxii,307 1292 QW

• Beruse 13 Whitby

• Beruis c.1235 Clib

• Berwis, Berwys 13 Whitby Hy3 NB 1234–6 Weth 1265 Cl 1440 Clib 1490 Weth

• Barwise 1415 NWm 1777 M

• Barwise Hall 1823 M

• Barwys, Barwis 1539 DRH 1540 TRMB 1652 FF

• -Hall 1704 Terr

• Barwesse 1543 Kendi,235

• Barwyshe 1570 FF

• Barwayes (Hall) 1632,1652 FF

• Barways 1725 PR(CR)

• Barwies 1701 Dep

Etymology

All the earlier spellings before 1415, with the single exception of the 1242 form Berewis , are surnames of the local family of Berwis (on which cf. A. MacDonald in CW xxxvii, 106 ff). This family name is probably of local origin, but the exclusive -is ending as well as the later forms like -wise , -wyshe , -wesse , etc., makes it very unlikely to be OE  beorgas , pl. of beorg 'hill'; it might be a compound of OE  bere 'barley' and wisce or wis(s)e 'meadow, marsh'. The hall is in a clearing near the moorland fringe.