Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Bremstout(e) 1307 Dartmoor 1317 Pat 1347 DuCo 1412 Ct

• Brempstout(e) t.Hy6 Ct

• Bremestowte 1481 Ct

• Brynstowte 1443 Ct

• Bremst 1611 DuCo

• Bremst otherwise Brymst 1613 DuCo

• Bromist 1736 DuCo

Etymology

The second element in this name is found also in Stout, Stouthaies, Winstout, Southill (v. Index) and probably in Stout (So) for which no early forms have been noted. These places are all on or by well-marked hills and the forms point to an OE  *stūt used to denote such. In ON  we have stútr , which stands in ablaut relation to OE  stott , used of a bull, and also of the butt end of a horn, a stumpy thing. The root idea behind stútr is probably something stumpy. Such a term might well be used of a rounded hill of a certain shape and would furnish a close parallel to the history of the word peak , similarly used of a hill (cf. Mawer, Problems of PN Study , 71). The first element is probably OE  bremel, hence 'bramble-grown hill.'