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.

Bedmond and Bedmondhill Fm

Early-attested site in the Parish of Abbots Langley

Historical Forms

  • Bedesunta (sic) 1331 Verulam
  • Bedmont, Bedmond, Bedmondeponde t.Ed6 SidSus
  • Bedmond Hill 1565 Verulam
  • Bedmont 1598 N

Etymology

Bedmond and Bedmondhill Fm are Bedesunta (sic)1331 Verulam, Bedfunte 1433, Bedvonthyll 1512Cassio , Bedmont , Bedmond , Bedmondeponde t. Ed 6SidSus , Bedmond Hill 1565 Verulam, Bedmont 1598 N. It looks as if this name has been deliberately altered through attempts to connect the second element with OFr  mont , as in Beaumont infra 78, the place being on a hill. The original name may well have been identical with Bedfont (Mx), Bedefunt , Bedefunde DB, Bedefont (e )1198 Curet passim , v. funta . Cf. also Bedford Well (PN Sx 427), where the modern form has also been corrupted through popular etymology. Those names are probably compounds of OE  *byde , 'hollow, depression,' discussed under Bidwell (PN D 410, PN Nth 222) and found in Bedwell infra 138, and funta , 'spring.'It is possible that the reference here is to the small pool just to the north of Bedmond on the downward slope of the hill.