Bierton
Major Settlement in the Parish of Bierton with Broughton
Historical Forms
- Bortone 1086 DB
- Burton 1227 FF 1237–40 Fees 1241 Ass 1259 Abbr 1297 Cl 1298 Ipm
- Burton near Aylesbiry 1308 Pat 1315 Pat 1334 Ipm
- Byrton 1362 Inqaqd 1382 IpmR 1616 HMN
- Byerton 1363 Cl
- Beyreton 1370 Cl
- Bierton 1382 Pat 1461 IpmR 1536 LS
- Berton al. Bureton by Ailesbury 1404 Pat
- Beerton 1415 ADvi 1432 ADi 1474 Pat 1483 IpmR 1546 LP 1627 BM
- Bereton 1462 Pat 1465 IpmR 1497 BM
- Berton 1467 Pat 1538 LP
- Beyrton 1488 Pat
- Berton al. Byerton 1540 LP
- Bearton 1766 J
- Burton 1290–1342 Linc
- Byrton 1347–62 Linc
- Birton, Bureton, Beerton, Burton 1303–98 Linc
- Beerton, Bereton, Byrton 1408–20 Linc
- Bereton 1452–72 Linc
- Bireton, Bereton 1480–96 Linc
- Berton, Byreton 1496–1514 Linc
- Bireton 1522–47 Linc
Etymology
The forms of this name down to 1334 point clearly to an example of the common burh-tun, here descriptive of a farm by Aylesbury burh or simply of some fortified farm and this etymology is perhaps strengthened by the neighbouring Burcott (v. infra ) which may also contain the element burh .
If that is the etymology however the forms from the middle of the 14th cent. must be due to some definite intention to alter the name. Possibly there was danger of confusion with Bourton by Buckingham even though that is fairly distant. That such confusion was thought possible is shown by the frequency of the addition of the phrase 'by Aylesbury,' which has been noted in four cases beside those given above.
Professor Ekwall would prefer to explain this difficult name by starting from an OE compound byrh-tun , containing the gen. sg. of burh . For such a compound he adduces the parallel of Byrhfun (BCS 1161). The DB form he would explain as due to the more common compound burh-tun and those in Bur - as representing, in a good many cases at least, ME u from OE y .
He identifies Byrhfunt with a good deal of probability with Boarhunt (Ha). This can readily be done if we assume that the f in the OE form is a mistake for h , due to unconscious anticipation of the next name, viz. Hafunt , that the scribe places on record. Admitting that, the OE form can then be brought into relation with the later forms for Boarhunt, viz. DB Borehunte , 13th cent. Bur (g )hunte , 14th cent. Bourehunte and these forms may in their turn throw light on the development of Bierton.