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.

Beenleigh

Early-attested site in the Parish of Diptford

Historical Forms

  • Benleia 1086 DB
  • Benlegh 1242 Fees766,790
  • Beneleg' 1219 Ass
  • Bunelee 1238 Ass
  • Binnelegh 1244 Ass
  • Binelegh 1276 Ipm
  • Bynnelegh 1311 Ass 1330 SR 1495 Ipm
  • Bynelegh 1377 Cl

Etymology

This name must clearly be taken with Beneknowle infra 301, one mile to the east. It is difficult to be certain about the names.The forms perhaps favour OE  bēona , 'of the bees,' rather than Bynna (n ) from the pers. name Bynna , but on the other hand adjacent places are more likely to have been named from one man than from bees. v. leah .