Bampton
Major Settlement in the Parish of Bampton
Historical Forms
- Badentona, Baentona 1086 DB
- Bahentona c.1120 Bath 12th
- Banton c.1156 Bath 12th Ass 1238
- Baenton' 1176,1183 P
- Benton' 1183 P
- Baunton 1221 FF 1368 BM
- Baunptone 1274 Exon
- Bamton 1253 Ipm
- Baumton 1336 Ch
Etymology
The forms make it clear that the first element in this name is OE bæð , 'bath,' cf. Morebath infra 536, and Simonsbath (So), Simonsbath , Simon 's Bath c. 1550 Leland, Symmonsbath 1657 Exmoor. Ekwall (RN 27) would take the name to be from OE Bæþhǣmatūn , indicating a settlement of men from Morebath infra 536, but settlement from Morebath on the hill to Bampton in the valley seems unlikely and perhaps we should rather assume that the bæð refers to a pool in the river at Bampton. Hence, 'farm of the dwellers by the pool.' Blomé (78) takes the name to be from OE Baþumtun and quotes the parallel of Baðum tune for Bath (Baðum ) from ASC (s. a. 906). This form is, however, only found in the late 11h cent. MS D. The other MSS read æt Baðum gerefa and it may be suspected that D's æt Badum tune gerefa is an error for æt Baðum tungerefa .