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.

Bestedon

Early-attested site in the Parish of Cattistock

Historical Forms

  • Bestedon 1795 Boswell
  • Byestedon 1300 Pat
  • Bestedene (sic), Betesdon (sic) 1310 Inqaqd
  • 'land called Bestedone' 1311 Hutch3
  • Beste(s)don 1311 Pat
  • Bestedon, Bestenden (sic) 1311 Drew

Etymology

Bestedon (lost), Bestedon 1795 Boswell, Byestedon 1300 Pat, Bestedene (sic), Betesdon (sic)1310 Inq aqd, 'land called Bestedone '1311 Hutch3, Beste (s )don 1311 Pat, Bestedon , Bestenden (sic)1311 Drew, camp ' de Beestedon ' 1317 MiltC, '(place ) to the east of the hill or down ', v. , ēastan , dūn , cf. Down 1839TA . According to 1774 Hutch1 2282, 'its name and situation are now unknown, and only occur in ancient records'.