Bewholme
Major Settlement in the Parish of Nunkeeling
Historical Forms
- Begun 1086 DB
- Begum 12th Nunkeel 1175–85 YCh t.John StoweCh 1260 Rental 1290 YI
- Beghum 1144–54 Nunkeel 1159–81 YCh c.1265 KF 1276 RH 1285 KI 1303 YI 1336 Ch 1339 Extent 1349 Ipm
- Bechum 1175–85 Nunkeel
- Beghom 13th Nunkeel 1297 LS 1415 YI
- Beghome 1401 YI
- Beighum 1201 FF
- Beyom 1316 NomVill
- Bogholme (sic) 1286 Ch
- Begham 1349 Ipm
- Beaughom 1419 YI 1431 BM
- Beaugham 1430 ib
- Bewham 1510 FF
- Bewhome 1526 FF
- Bewholme 1541 FF, MinAcct
- Baygh Home 1537 FF
Etymology
Phonologically it is possible for Bewholme to be derived from OE bēagum , dat. plur. of bēag 'a ring, collar, ornament,' but apart from the doubtful OE on beaga lea (BCS 596) the word is not used in any OE topographical context. On the other hand, we have a related bjúgr in several Norw place-names such as Bjuge from OScand bjúgar plur. (NoGN iv, 8), Esbjuk from Eiðsbjugar plur. (ib. 199) and Kjelbju from Keldu -bjúgr (ib. xii, 201), and in Icelandic Svínbjúgr and Svínbjúgsdalr . In most of these examples bjúgr clearly refers to 'a river-bend' and the same is true of a derivative *bjugn which enters into other place- names such as Bjoner (NoGN i, 388) and Bjune (ib. vi, 131); v. also NoEN 17. OScand bjúgr is not on record as a noun, but the corresponding adjective bjúgr 'bent, crooked' occurs both independently and in the place-name Bjunes (NoGN ix, 346).A similar topographical sense is to be found in other cognates such as OE boga or OScand bogr 'bow, river-bend' as in Bowes (PN NRY 304), OE byge 'bend, corner' (= sinus Epinal Gloss) in on nearuan byge on Afene (BCS 973), and OE byht 'bend, corner, curve.' Dr G. Knudsen calls attention to a possibly related Danish place-name Bigum which is on a promontory in a long lake called Tjele Langsø. See also Sahlgren in NoB xii, 180 ff.
It may be added that OScand bjúgum , dat. plur. of bjúgr , would appear in ME as Beg (h )um . Bewholme itself is on a small hill but there are several streams round the village which have very twisted courses. Hence 'at the bends in the stream(s).'