Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Brackenhale 1185 RR

• Brakehal' 1224–5 Ass

• Brackenhal' 1241 ib

• Brakenhal(e) 1284 ib

• Brakenhale 1285 Pat

• (de) Vetere Brackenale 1463 Gor

• New Brecknoll, Old Brecknoll 1607 Norden

• Bracknall, Old Bracknall 1790 Pride

• Bracknell, Old Bracknell 1800 Eden

Etymology

Bracknell is situated in the south-west angle of Warfield, and may be one of a group of names in which healh refers to land in a projecting corner of a parish. This sense is well evidenced near the Berkshire-Surrey border. Broom Hall (Sr 154) is in a narrow, projecting corner of Windlesham with Bagshot, Portnall (Sr 122–3) is in the southern projection of Egham, and Michen Hall (Sr 198) occupies a projecting corner of Godalming. Bracknell is recorded in 942, which might be thought early for this meaning of healh , but another possible instance in a name recorded in the 10th cent. is Lopshill (W 401), which occupies the southern projection of the parish of Damerham, which is also a projection of W into Ha.

It would be difficult to explain Bracknell as a topographical name, as it is not in a valley, but occupies a spur of land.