Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• pons de Brunesford 1284 Ass

• Bensford Bridge 1610 Speed

• a Bridge called now Benesford bridge but antiently Brunesford bridge 1656 Dugd

• Bensford Bridge 1695 Morden

• Brinsford 1606,1625 Terrier

• Brynesford 1612 LAS

• Brinesford 1629 Nichols

• Bruno 1086 DB

Etymology

Bransford Bridge pons de Brunesford 1284Ass (with MLat  pons 'a bridge'), Bensford Bridge 1610 Speed, a Bridge called now Benesford bridge but antiently Brunesford bridge 1656 Dugd, Bensford Bridge 1695 Morden, v. brycg; Brinsford 1606, 1625Terrier , Brynesford 1612 LAS, Brinesford 1629 Nichols, v. ford; the specific is a masc. pers.n. as in the township-name of Brownsover, adjacent to the south in Warwks., which was held by a man called Bruno in 1086 DB (from either OE  Brūn or ON  Brúnn ). This bridge over the river Swift is at the site of the most northerly of three closely consecutive bridges which may have given the important Romano-British settlement of Tripontium on Watling Street its name, v. Dow Bridge in Catthorpe supra .