Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Brentingeha' 1086 DB

• Brentingeham' 1167 P 1202 FF

• Brentengeh', Brentinkeha' 1166 P

• Bredingha', Brendingham 1086 DB

• Bretingha' 1086 DB

• Bretingham 1196 P 1203 Cur

• Bretingeham, Bretenham 1224 ClR

• Brentingham, Brentyngham 1080–6 YCh 17th DB 1086 YCh 1153–60 Pat 1296

• Brentinham 12th Malton

• Brentigham 1121–8 YCh c.1160 Malton

• Brantingham, Brantyngham 1160–80 Melsa late12th Meaux t.John AddCh 1202 FF 1204 ChR 1516 Bev

• Brantingeham 1202 FF 1246 Ass

Etymology

Ekwall (PN in -ing 147) takes the first element to be an OE  pers. name Brant , for which there is some evidence in place-names. We may also suggest a connexion with OE  brant 'steep,' for Brantingham is situated at the southern end of the wolds in very steep country and the meaning 'homestead of the Brantings (i.e. of those dwelling on the steep slopes)' would be very appropriate. We may compare the Norwegian place-name Brettingen from OScand  brett 'steep' (NoGN iv, 143). In any case the variation between Brent - and Brant - in the early spellings is similar to that found in the ME  forms brant and brent from OE  brant , and is certainly due to the existence of OE forms with and without i -mutation (cf. Introd. xxviii). The early spellings Bret -, Bred - may well be due to the influence of the cognate OScand  brett . v. ingaham .