Bearton Green
Early-attested site in the Parish of Hitchin
Historical Forms
- Biertun 13th Hosp
- Berton(e) 1287 Ass 1294,1296 SR
- Bertonweye, Bertonhegge 1381 Cl
- Bereton c.1460 Ct
- Bereton grene 1556 AOMB
- Bierton ib.
- Beerton 1591 Rental
Etymology
Bearton Green [biˑətən] is Biertun 13thHosp , Berton (e )1287Ass , 1294, 1296SR (p), Bertonweye , Bertonhegge 1381 Cl, Bereton c. 1460Ct , Bereton grene 1556AOMB , Bierton ib., Beerton 1591Rental . This is clearly not the common beretun , as shown alike by spellings and pronunciation. The forms resemble those for Bierton (PN Bk 146), except that we have no early Burton forms, and the Bier -, Ber - forms are earlier in date than in that name.On the other hand Bearton stands to Hitchin in the same relation that Bierton does to the ancient burh of Aylesbury and there can be little doubt that Bearton (like most of the forms for Bierton) goes back to OE byrhtun , 'farm belonging to the burh (gen. sg.) of Hitchin.' It should be noted however that, important as Hitchin was, we have no definite evidence that it was a borough until the 12th century (VCH iii, 6).