Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Boituna, Boitunā 1086 DB

• Boitune 13th ADi

• Boytun(e), Boytun(e) Wode 13th,1245–9 ADi

• Boyton(e) 1240 FF 1285 Ass 1316 Cl

• Boyton(e)grene 13th ADi

• Boyton(e)hall 1375 IpmR

• Boydon 1464 MinAcct

• Boyworth t.Ed1 Ipm

Etymology

Boyton Hall is Boituna , Boitunā 1086 DB, Boitune 13th AD i, Boytun (e ), Boytun (e ) Wode 13th, 1245–9 AD i, Boyton (e )1240 FF, 1285Ass , 1316 Cl, Boyton (e )grene 13th AD i, Boyton (e )hall 1375 IpmR, Boydon 1464MinAcct . As suggested in PN Wo 304 and PN D 600, the first element here is probably a significant word boia , the ancestor of our modern boy . To the examples there noted of names in Boy - may be added Boyton Hall in Roxwell supra 265, Boyton End in Thaxted infra 498, Byford Tye in Writtle infra 614, Boylehe in Colne Engaine (1219 FF), Boiesheg ' in Birchanger (1222 FF), Boywelle in Matching (1288Survey ), Boylond in Bocking (1387–1403Ct ), Boybreg (g )e (felde ) in High Easter (1395–1497Ct ), Boycroft in Great Waltham (1422 ER xiii), Boylonde in Orsett (1483Ct ), Boypettes in Goldhanger (1525MinAcct ), Boy (f )feld supra 41, 323 and infra 575, 625, Bayford (So), Boyfordeschulve 1382 AD iii, Boycroft (Y) 14th Selby, Boymede (Nth) 13th AD ii, Boydich 1257 AD iii, Boywodefeld , Boywodegrene , Netherboywode in Cawston (Nf) 1417–1515 AD iii, 'aldersgrounde called Boyland ' in Lewisham (K) 1609 AD iii, Boybuttes in Beeston (Beds) 1327 AD vi. See also Boyton, Boy Court, Boyke, Boyden (PN K 232, 236, 431, 505) and Bayford (ib. 272). For the latter the form Boyworth (t. Ed 1 Ipm), earlier than anything given by Wallenberg, may be noted. Though we have no early forms we may also compare the following Essex field-names: Boyfield (Lambourne, Matching), Boyton Field (White Roding), Boy Ley (Writtle), Boy Pasture (Wethersfield) and Middle Boy (Lambourne).