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.

High Bray

Major Settlement in the Parish of High Bray

Historical Forms

  • æt Bræg, Bræg c.970 BCS1253
  • Braia 1086 DB
  • brai 1121 AC
  • Hautebray(e) 1242 Fees772 1267 Exon 1303 FA 1326 Ipm
  • Hautbrey 1335 Exon
  • Heghebray 1280 Ass 1316 FA 1334 SR
  • Heghebrey 1346 Ass
  • Heghbrey 1347 FF
  • Hyebray 1448 Pat

Etymology

Ekwall (RN 49) considers that Bray, though evidenced as a stream-name from the 13th cent. (v. supra 2), may originally have been a p.n. identified with Co , W  bre , 'hill,' or OE  brǣg , 'brow.' High Bray stands on a well-marked hill and if of Celtic origin may possibly have been wrongly connected with the stream by the earliest English settlers. Bray in Morval and Brea in St Just (Co) are on hills and have similar early spellings and undoubtedly go back to the Celtic word.