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.

Brixton

Major Settlement in the Parish of Brixton

Historical Forms

  • Brisestona 1086 DB
  • Brikeston' 1200 Cur 1201 FF 1306 Ass 1376 Pat
  • Brixton 1284 FA t.Ed1 Ipm
  • Bryokeston 1346 Ass
  • Brigston 1242 Fees776

Etymology

v. tun . The first element is perhaps the old Celtic pers. name Brioc (Chest 111), cf. Brixham, Marshall, Branscombe (infra 507, 498, 620). The DB form is probably an error, but the later forms do not favour the OE  pers. name Beorhtsige .