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.

Belvoir Castle

Early-attested site in the Parish of Belvoir

Historical Forms

  • castrum de Belvedeire 1146 Reg
  • castro de Beauveer 1216 PatR
  • de Castello Hy1 Ch 1333
  • castello de Beluario 1189 CartAnt
  • castello de Belvero 1287 Pat
  • castello de Beauver(e) 1321,1354 ib
  • castelli de Beauver 1361 ib
  • castelli de Beavoire 1388 ib
  • castellum de Bello Videre 1431 ib
  • Bevercastell 1439 Pat
  • Belwer Castell 1539 Rut
  • Bellever Castelle c.1545 Leland
  • Beuer cast. 1576 Saxton 1579 EMBI
  • Beaver Castle 1618 LML
  • Belvoir Castle 1863,1877 White
  • le Courtehous Yerde 1531 Comp
  • le Gatehouse 1542 Rut
  • Hallegarth' 1425 Comp
  • le Hallherd 1423 Wyg
  • le halleyerd 1424 ib
  • le hall yerd 1424 ib
  • the Kechen close 1542 Rut
  • le Mote 1356 Nichols
  • le Ward 1292 OSut
  • le Castleward 1555 Rut

Etymology

v. castel(l). Note also MLat  castrum and MLat  castellum , both 'a castle'.Recorded parts of the castle are:

le Courtehous Yerde 1531Comp (v . court-hous, geard); le Gatehouse 1542Rut (v . gate-hous); Hallegarth '1425Comp , le Hallherd 1423Wyg , le halleyerd 1424ib , le hall yerd 1424ib (v . hall, garðr, geard); the Kechen close 1542Rut (v . kicchen, clos(e)); le Mote 1356 Nichols (v . mote); le Ward 1292 OSut, le Castleward 1555Rut (v . warde).