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.

Brimstones

Early-attested site in the Parish of Westbury on Severn

Historical Forms

  • Grymstons (sic) c.1340 For
  • Brun(e)ston 1355 Heref 1594 Dep
  • Brimston(s) 1594 1700 GR537

Etymology

Brimstones, Grymstons (sic)c. 1340For , Brun (e )ston 1355 Heref, 1594Dep , Brimston (s )1594 ib, 1700GR 537. The first el. is uncertain, but it could be ME  bryn - 'burnt', though the significance of 'burnt stones' is here obscure; but we could have the OE  pers.n. Brȳni .v. stān .