English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Brickhampton

Early-attested site in the Parish of Churchdown

Historical Forms

  • Brithelmeton 1148–79 Glouc
  • Brichelmeton', Brichtelmeton' 1221 Ass, FF
  • Breithelminton' 1220 Fees
  • Brihthamtunn, Brihthamton c.1220 GlR 1248 Ass
  • Brighthampton(e), Bryghthampton(e) 1287 Ass 1305 Pat 1309 Orig 1314 FF 1433 Pat
  • Brighamton, Bryghamton 1248 Ass 1369 BM
  • Bryggehampton 1548 Pat
  • Brechampton' 1248 Ass 1276 RH
  • Brith(h)ampton(e) 1272 Glouc 1277 FF 1290 Ipm 1328 Banco
  • Brichampton, Brychampton 1281 FF 1433 Pat
  • Brickhampton 1576 Crav
  • Brickhampton als. Bridghampton 1637 Inq 1645 FF
  • Brickington 1622 Rec

Etymology

'Brihthelm's farmstead', from the OE  pers.n. Brihthelm and tūn, a single form having the connective -ing 4 (probably lost in others by dissimilation). Like Forthampton (57supra ), the name was influenced at an early date by the OE  hām-tūn 'homestead' which is found in other Gl p.ns. like Brockhampton (i, 178supra ), and some forms in Brig -, Brugge - may also be due to an early popular etymology from OE  brycg 'bridge', doubtless because there was a bridge here over Hatherley Brook (pons de Bryghthampton '1368 Works).The reduction to -ing - in Brickington is common in this type of p.n. (as in Sevenhampton i, 177supra ).