Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Bistesham 1086 DB

• Bistelesham 1152–4 Templars 15th

• Bistlesham 1199 P

• Bystlesham 1236 Cl

• Bistlisham 1260 ib

• Bistellesham 1275 ib

• Bistelsham 1311 Fine

• Bustelesham c.1155 Templars 15th RH 1275–6 Ass 1284 SR 1327 Pat 1339

• Bustlesham 1185 Templars 1194 Cur

• Bustlisham c.1240 S late13th

• Bustelusham 1330 Fine

• Bustlesham Mountagu 1339 Ch 1345 BM

• Bustellesham 1517 DInc

• Bixlesham 1189 Templars

• Byxtlesham 1225 Cl

• Betlesham 1206 Cur

• Bustnesham, Bestnesham 1224–5 Ass

• Bestlesham 1230 P 1241 Ass 1308 Fine

• Brustlesham 1284 Ass 1322 Fine 1337 Cl

• Brustelesham 1334 Fine

• Bristlesham 1322 Fine

• Bristlesham Mountague 1535 VE

• Butlesham c.1337 Winchester 14th VE 1535

• Byssam 1535 VE

• Bissham 1573 SpecCom

• Bissome 1651 PubLib

• Bisham als Bustleham Montague 1746 ArchJ

• Bustleham 1573 BM

Etymology

The second el. is hām or hamm , and the first a pers.n. Ekwall (DEPN) suggests OE  Byssel , a derivative of *Byssa , with -t - developing as in Basildon (Part 2). *Byssa is probably found in byssan broc KCD 1309. The forms with Br - suggest association with the word bristle .

William Lord Montagu obtained the manor of Bisham in 1337 (VCH iii, 146).