Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Bristehil 12th Nunkeel c.1200,1293 Meaux

• Bristil(l), Brystil(l), Brystyl(l) 1150–60 Melsa 1200 Cur 13th Bridl 1205 ChR 1348 Ipm

• Brystil(l) in Holdernes 1571 FF

• Bristhil(l) 1172,late12th,13th Meaux 1246 Ass 1510 FF

• Bristhil(l) Mora c.1265 KF

• Bristhil(l) la More 1285 KI

• Bristhul(le) 1210–2 RBE 1240 FF

• Bresthill 1285 KI

• Byrsthyll, Birsthyll, Birsthill 1534,1595 FF

• Bursall 1537 Dugd

• Bursill 1543 MinAcct

• Brustill 1579 BM

• Boshill 1786 Tuke

Etymology

The name is to be derived from OE  byrst in the sense 'landslip' or 'broken land' which lies behind OE  eorþ (g )ebyrst (BCS 1240), eorþgeberst (ib. 801), and eorðbriste (ib. 816) and probably on þonæ byrstæ del (ib. 796). Middendorff (23) suggests for the latter an OE  adjective byrst , presumably in the sense 'rugged, broken' and this adjective is possible also for Burshill. These words are related to OE  berstan 'to burst.' The description of Burshill as 'the broken hill' would be appropriate; it is a small hill forming part of the narrow ridge called Barff Hill infra 75. v. hyll . For a similar name cf. OE  brocenan beorge (BCS 596).