Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Bremesgraf 803 BCS308 11th Middleton 803 c.1000

• Bremergrafan 803 Middleton c.1000

• Bremesgrefan 803 BCS308 11th BCS313 804 11th

• Bremesgrave 1086 DB c.1086 EveA 1190 P 1174 P 1176 P 1180,1181 Ch 1232 Bodl42b c.1235 P 1242 Ch 1267 Ipm 1271 Bodl42a c.1285 1387 ib

• Brimesgrav 1161–76 P

• Brumesgrava 1162,1173,1186,1187,1190 P

• Brimesgraua 1173 ChancR 1235 Pat

• Bromesgrava 1167 P 1232 Ch

• Brunesgrave 1171,1172 P 1317 Ch

• Brimmegrave 1200 Cur

• Brimmesgrave, Brummesgrave 1216 Cl 1317 Ch

• Bremmisgrave 1259 Pat

• Bremmesgrave 1261 Pat

• Brymesgrove 1373 Pat 1424 IpmR

• Bromesgrove al. Brommesgrove 1441 Pat

Etymology

From the pers. name Breme in DB, from this name and from the unidentified Bremesburh (ASC s.a. 909 D) Redin (11) and Ritter (115 and n. 1) are doubtless right in assuming an OE  pers. name Brēme from the adj. brēme , 'famous.' The second element shows common confusion of the forms graf(a) and græfa , hence 'Breme's grove or thicket.' This should normally have developed to Bremsgrove or Brimsgrove , but the rarity of the first element, ready folk-association with broom (v. brom ), and the near neighbourhood of two other places, viz. Birmingham and Bromwich, with similar sounding first elements, played havoc with its development.

Professor Zachrisson suggests that the development may, in part at least, be due to a definite phonological development, thus brim > brym > brum . Cf. ModEng rosin for resin .