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.

Biggleswade

Major Settlement in the Parish of Biggleswade

Historical Forms

  • Pichelesuuade 1086 DB
  • Bicheleswada 1132 DandCLincA1/1no.2 1202 Ass
  • Bic(h)leswade 1175 P 1227 Ass 1227–9 Ch 1229 Cl
  • Bikeleswade 1183 P 1202 Ass 1220 LS
  • Bickeleswade 1240 Ass 1255 Bodl
  • Becleswade 1438 ADiv
  • Beklyswade 1480 BM
  • Bygelswade 1486 ADii
  • Bygleswade 1535 VE
  • Biccleswade al. Biggleswade Eliz ChancP

Etymology

'Biccel's ford' v. wæd . This pers. name is not found on independent record in OE but is found in Bigstrup (Bk).It is a diminutive of OE  Bicca and has a cognate in OGer  Bichilo .

Places in the same Parish