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.

Belper

Major Settlement in the Parish of Belper

Historical Forms

  • Be(a)urepeir, Be(a)urepeyr, Be(a)urepair(e), Be(a)urepayr(e) 1231 Cl 1251 Ch 1252 BelCh 1262 WollCh Hy3 For 1482 MinAcct
  • Beaupeyr 1269 Pat
  • Be(a)ureper(e), Be(a)wreper(e) 1291 Tax 1294 DuLa 1337 RadCh 1346,1358,1373,1377 DuLa 1624 et passim
  • Be(a)repar(e) 1492 RadCh 1595 Lanc
  • Be(a)reperde 1590 DuLa
  • Bureper 1330 QW
  • Beauper 1493 Ipm
  • Beauperd 1596 DuLa
  • Beawperde 1498 Lanc
  • Belpare 1520,1549 Lanc
  • Bealper 1562 Lanc 1577 DbAi
  • Belper 1577 Saxton 1601 Lanc 1610 Speed

Etymology

A French p.n., 'beautiful retreat', from OFr  beau, repaire.