Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Brunescume 1086 DB, Exon

• Brunescumb 1219 FF

• Brunnescorne (sic) 1301 Pat

• Brunscombe 1449 Fine

• Brundescumb 1244 Ass

• Bryncescomb 1286 Abbr

• Bronchyscomb 1443 IpmR

• Brenshyscomb 1463 FF

• ?Bramescumb 1318 FF

• Branscombe 1664 Hutch3

• Brynnescombe 1376 Pat, Ass

• Brenscomb(e) 1509 Hutch3

• Brenscomb(e) farme, Brenscomb(e) alias Bremescombe 1636 Ilch

• Bremescombe 1586 Hutch3

• Bryanscomb(e) 1795 Boswell

• Brianscomb(e) 1811 OS 1861 Hutch3

Etymology

v. cumb 'valley'. The first el. is probably the OE  pers.n. Brȳni (Redin 121), alternating with Brȳnic (ib 149, 165), cf. Brinscombe Sx 53 which is also from Brȳni and cumb . There is mention of a 'church house and schoole house in Branscombe' in 1664 Hutch3.