Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• (a) Bechesdene, Betesdene 1086 DB

• Beth(e)lesdena c.1145 HarlCh84H18 1199 HarlCh85C25

• Betlesden(a) c.1145 HarlCh84H45 Hyii HarlChC22–4 1221,1387 Pat

• Betelesden c.1160 HarlCh84Di 1394 Pat

• Beddlesden 1575 BM

• (b) Buttlesden(a) Hyii 1244 Fees 1274 Fine

• Butlesden 1231 FF 1234,1237 Cl 1242 Fees870 1255 For 1310,1341 Cl 1374,1392 Pat 1522 LP

• Buthlesden 1256 BM

• Butelesden 1337 Cl

• (c) Bittlesden 1224 Pat 1274 Fine 1755 BW

• Bitlesden 1231,1232 Cl 1294 Pat 1369,1385,1394 Pat

• Bithlisden 1242 Fees935

• Byt(t)lesden 1255 For 1272 BM 1331 Pat

• Bit(t)elesden 1338,1376 Cl

• Bittilsden 1534 LDD

• Bidleston 1766 J

Etymology

The first element in this name is a pers. name Byttel . This would account for the various forms of the stem-vowel (v. Introd. xxiv). No such name is on record but there is an OE  Byttic which is another diminutive formation from the same name Butt (a ), which lies behind Butley (Sf), Buttington (Gl), Buttinghill Hundred (Sx). This name is cognate with ON  Butti and it is possible that the OHG  Buzili , which Förstemann, PN (331) takes to be a Bōt - name, should really be taken as a But - one. The later d has often led to voicing of the earlier t to d . The th forms are to be explained as due to the frequent confusion of thl and dl . v. IPN 110 n. 3.