Bragenham
Early-attested site in the Parish of Soulbury
Historical Forms
- Brageham 1178 P 1241 Ass 1302 FA
- Bracham 13th Dunst
- Brakenham 1241 Ass 13th Dunst
- Bragenham 1284 FA 1393 Pat 1512 ADvi
- Bragnam 1481 IpmR 1766 J c.1825 O
- Braggeham 1500 Pat
Etymology
One can only offer a solution of this difficult name on the assumption that our true guide is the Brakenham form. In this case it may be that the first element is that found in Bracknell (Berks), Braccanheal BCS 778, and Brackley (Nth), DBBrachelie .That element is not itself easy of explanation but that it is a pers. name is made almost certain by the p.n. Bracklesham (Sx), Brakelesham BCS 807 (late copy), which clearly contains a dimin. Braccol derived from it. These names are probably to be associated with OHG bracco , 'greyhound.' If that is the true history of the name we may compare for its phonological development the history of Dagenham (Ess), 692 BCS Dæc - canham , 1262 FF Daginham , 1274 Cl Dagenham , 1286 FF id., 1287 FF Dageham , 1289 Abbr Dagenham , 1350 BM Dakenham , 1428 FA Dagenham , and in Eggington (Beds), earlier Ekendon .Professor Ekwall has supplied the further parallels of Eggergarth (La), Ekergart , c. 1240, Egergarh 1212 and Waggoner's Wells (Sr), earlier Wakener 's Wells . In all these cases k has been voiced to g , usually before n .