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.

Bilmore Dell

Early-attested site in the Parish of Kimpton

Historical Forms

  • Bilmer feild, Billmer greene 1638 Terrier
  • Bilemere 1314 SR

Etymology

Bilmore Dell (6″) is Bilmer feild , Billmer greene 1638 Terrier and was the home of William de Bilemere (1314SR ). The second element is mere , 'pool.' The forms are too late for any certainty with regard to the first. It may be the OE plant-name billere , dialectal billers , 'cow-parsnip, water-dropwort,' discussed under Billacombe (PN D 184) and Billsmore (PN Wa 68). Water dropwort, though rare in Herts, has been recorded from this area (E. J. S.). It is compounded with elements denoting marshy places in Bil(l)brook (So, St) and in Billsmore. The r would readily be lost by dissimilation. Alternatively we may have the OE  personal name Billa .