Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Beganwurþan 862 BCS535 l.13th

• Becgwirðe 1022 KCD1317 13th

• Beiewrda 1086 DB

• Beiewrth' 1221 Ass

• Begeword(ia), Begew(o)rth, Begewurth c.1150 BM 1211–13 Fees 1221 Ass c.1230 GlR 1284 Episc 14 ADi 1460 Pat

• Bechefort 1164 P

• Becheworth 1233 Cl

• Bechesworth 1295 Ipm

• Beggewurd(a), Beggeworth(e), Beggewurth, Beggeuutha 1178,1190,1191 P l.12 WinchLB 1218 ClR 1220 Fees 1272 Episc 1281 Ch 1287 Ass 1511 FF

• Beggeswurth', Beggesworth 1248 Ass 1275 Ipm 1291 Tax 1322 Ch 1376 Ipm

• Baggesworth 1275 Ipm

• Baggeworthy 1299 Ipm

• Baggeworth 1328 Banco 1387 Ipm 1473 Pat 1544 FF

• Beghwurþe c.1300 RGl

• Begworth(e) 1322 Fine 1347 Works

• Begworth(e) als. Badgworth 1415 IpmR

• Bageworth(e) 1347 MinAcct 1523 GlR 1535 VE 1551 GlR

• Bacheworthe 1542 FF

• Badg(e)worth(e) 1585 FF 1605 Rec

• Bedgeworth 1637 ib

Etymology

The OE  spelling Began - and the few early ones in Beie - rather suggest the OE  pers.n. Bē (a )ge as in Bibury (i, 26supra ), but the long history of those in Beg (g )e - clearly indicate an OE  pers.n. Bæcga as in Bagendon (i, 55supra ). 'Bæcga's enclosure', v. worð . The form Becga may be a Merc variant (cf. Phonol. § 1). The single -worthy spelling is from SW worðig .