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.

Burthwaite Bridge

Early-attested site in the Parish of Borrowdale

Historical Forms

  • Butherthwait, Burthwayt 1211 Fountains
  • Butherhals 1211 Fountains

Etymology

The first form shows that this is an ON  genitival compound, representing an original búðar þveit , 'clearing around, or adjacent to, a booth.' Butherhals 1211 Fountains, in which búðar is followed by hals , 'pass,' was in this neighbourhood.