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.

Beckfield Fm

Early-attested site in the Parish of Sandon

Historical Forms

  • Bekke 1259 StPauls
  • ate Becke 1307 SR

Etymology

Beckfield Fm. Cf. Beck Field c. 1840TA . This name is to be associated with Henry la Becke (t. Hy 3), de Bekke (1259StPauls ) and Reginald ate Becke (1307SR ). There is a small stream half a mile away, but it is not very likely that we have here in Hertfordshire an example of the ON  bekkr, 'stream, beck,' and perhaps the family came originally from some place in the Danelaw.