Berkhamsted
Major Settlement in the Parish of Great Berkhamsted
Historical Forms
- (æt) Beorhðanstædæ 966–84 ASWills 12th
- Beorhhamstede 1066 ASC c.1100
- Berchehāstede 1086 DB
- Berkestede 1261 FF
- Berchamsted(e) 1086 DB c.1148 BM 1428 FA
- Berchamstud(e) 1201 FineR 1275 RH c.1300 RG
- villa qui vocatur Beorcham c.1150 FW
- Berhammesteda 12th France
- Berchammested' 1178,1184 P
- Borchampstede 1178 BM
- Berghamstede 1248 Ass 1333 FF
- Berekhamstede 1263 FF 1275 RH
- Berkhampstede 1266 Pat
- Berchampstede 1285–93 Ch 1324 Ipm
- Berkhampstede Comitis 1351 FF
- Barkhamstede 1378 FF
- Barkhampstede 1492 Pat
- Barcamsted 1447 Ct
- Barkehamsted 1546 CtRequests
- Brekhamsted 1428 FA
- Barkhamsteed St Peter al. Great Barkhamsteed 1580 FF
- Barkhamsted Peeters 1644 Sess
- Berkstead oth. Berkampsted (sic) 1801 Recov
Etymology
'Birch-grown hamstede.' Cf. Little Berkhamsted infra 217, an independent example, and Nuthampstead infra 183. The abundance of birch as a coloniser on Berkhamsted Common to-day attests the appropriateness of the name. It is well nigh a weed (E. J. S.).