English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Bedham Hill

Early-attested site in the Parish of Dullingham

Historical Forms

  • Bethlinge 1314 Clare
  • Bethlyngfeld 1337 ib
  • Bedlingge 1315 Clare
  • Bedlynge 1344 ib
  • Bedlyngehyll 1428 1478 StCatharine's
  • Bedlengefeld 1334 Clare
  • Bedhynggfeld 1327 Clare
  • Bedlam Hill c.1825 O.S.

Etymology

We possibly have here a compound of *bydel , a diminutive of *byde , 'hollow, depression,' discussed s. n. Bidwell (PN Nth 222), and hlinc , 'hill by the hollow,' cf. PN in -ing 28–30.