Billow Fm, Billow Brook
Early-attested site in the Parish of Breadstone
Historical Forms
- Belaga 13 Glouc
- Beley(e) 1220–30 Berk 1266,1272 Ipm 1324 Misc
- Belegh 1270 Berk
- Rudigga de Buleye in Camme 1220–30 Berk
- Bule 1328 Banco
- Bellegh' 1221 Ass
- Belge 1273 Misc
- Beoley, Beole(y)gh 1273 Misc 1327 SR 1498 Ipm Hy8 Rent
- Boleye 1285 FF
- Boolay 1401 Ipm
- Boele 1290 FF
- Boeleye c.1315 Berk
- Beeley 1287 Ass 1322 Fine 1641 Misc
- Billow Fm 1777 M
Etymology
The variant spellings -e (o )-, -o (e )- and -u -, all representing the development of OE -ēo -, make it quite clear that Billow is of similar origin to Beoley (Wo 185) and means 'bee glade or clearing', that is 'one where bees were kept or wild bees were in abundance', v. bēo , lēah .