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.

Bamville Fm and Bamville Wood

Early-attested site in the Parish of Wheathampstead

Historical Forms

  • in bosco de Bamfelde 1224 FF t.Ed1 WDB 1302–5 WAM
  • Bamfeld 1272 ib
  • Baunfeld 1294 SR

Etymology

Bamville Fm and Bamville Wood (both 6″) is in bosco de Bamfelde 1224FF , t. Ed 1WDB , 1302–5WAM , Bamveldewod 1385, Bamvyle wod 1487 ib., and was the home of Richard de Bamfeld (1272 ib.) and Richard de Baunfeld (1294SR ). This is a compound of OE  bēam , 'tree' and feld and must have referred to an open space marked by some conspicuous tree. See Introd. xxv.