Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Bissopesbir' 1256 Cl

• Le Busschopesber, Le Bishopesber 1300 ib

• Le Bisshopesbere 1331 ib

• La Bere 1445 ArchJ

• Berewood, Bere Wood, The Bearewood 1572 SpecCom

• Berewood e.17th Survey

• Beare Wood 1607 Norden

• Bishops Beare Wood Walke m.17th ForProc

• Bare Wood Common 1761 Rocque

• Bear Wood Park 1846 Snare

Etymology

Bear Wd, Bissopesbir '1256 Cl, Le Busschopesber , Le Bishopesber 1300 ib, Le Bisshopesbere 1331 ib, La Bere 1445 ArchJ 46, Berewood , Bere Wood , The Bearewood 1572SpecCom , Berewood e.17thSurvey , Beare Wood 1607Norden , Bishops Beare Wood Walke m.17thForProc , Bare Wood Common 1761 Rocque, Bear Wood Park 1846 Snare.v. biscop , bǣr 2 . This was a chase of the Bishops of Salisbury, appurtenant to their manor of Sonning (VCH iii, 253). The second el. which means 'swine pasture', may have been applied to the wood before it was made into a chase.