Brightwell
Major Settlement in the Parish of Brightwell
Historical Forms
- Beorhtawille, (æt) Brihtanwylle 854 BCS474 12th
- æt Beorhttanwille, (to) Beorhtanwille 945 12th ib
- Bricsteuuelle, Bristowelle 1086 DB
- Brightewell' 1220 Fees
- Brichtewell' 1224–5 Ass
- Brictewelle 1242–3 Fees
- Westbrightwell 1315 Pat
- Brighthewell' 1327 SR
- Bryghtwelle 1401–2 FA
- Brygthwelle 1428 ib
- Brightwell 1517 DInc
- Britwell' 1224–5 Ass
- Brithwell 1275–6 RH 1284 Ch
- Brichewell Episcopi 1282–1304 PontReg 1284 Ass
- Brich(t)well' 1284 ib
- Westbrittewelle 1320 AD
- Estbrithwell 1275 FF (O 120–1)
Etymology
'Bright spring', v. beorht , w(i)ella. The village overlooks a network of streams, the courses of which are obviously much affected by drainage work; the source of much of this water is probably the spring from which the settlement is named. The same p.n. occurs in O and Sf. The Berks name is correctly rendered into Latin in BCS 830 (dated 947) 'declaratam fontem - nunc vero verbi gratia Gewisorum more Beorhtanwille'. Westbrightwell in distinction to Brightwell Baldwin in O, some 4 miles away, which is Estbrithwell 1275 FF (O 120–1); Episcopi from the Bishop of Winchester.