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.

Branston

Major Settlement in the Parish of Croxton Kerrial

Historical Forms

  • Brantestone 1086 DB 1227 RHug
  • Branteston' c.1130 LeicSurv 1190 P l.12 BelCartA e.14 FA 1285
  • Brantestona 1209×19 RHug
  • Brantestun 1283 Ipm
  • Brantestuna 12 BelCartB e.15
  • Brantiston' 1209×35 RHug 1246 Fine Hy3 Crox 1276 RGrav l.13 CRCart
  • Brandeston' 1184(p),1185 P 1317 Rut 1378 Cl
  • Brandestun' 1226 Cur
  • Brandiston' 1242 Fees
  • Braunteston' 1221 Fine Hy3 Crox 1298 Banco c.1316 BelCartB e.15
  • Brauntestona 1234 RegAnt
  • Braundeston' 1284 Ch 1287 Ipm 1410,1413 Rut 1413,1425 Comp
  • Braundiston' 1321 Rut
  • Braunceton 1412,1442 Rut 1577 LEpis
  • Braunston' Hy3 Crox 1276 RH 1413 Comp 1428 FA 1615,1618 LML
  • Brawnston 1362,1456,1462 Rut
  • Branstun l.12 Rut
  • Branstuna Hy1 Ch 1333 BelCartB Hy2 BelCartA e.15 Edw1
  • Branston(') 1246 CroxR Edw1 Rut 1263 Crox Hy3 CCR 1473 Rut 1500
  • Braundson 1599 Rut
  • Braunson 1604 SR
  • Branson 1611 Rut 1612 LeicW 1674 Terrier
  • ~ Wandevill' 1242 Fees
  • ~ iuxta Belver 1315,1318 Banco 1347 et passim
  • ~ iuxta Beauver 1406 Pat
  • ~ iuxta Croxton 1315,1335 Banco 1387 Fine 1406 Pat
  • ~ le Vale 1529,1552 AAS
  • ~ iuxta le Vale 1505 Pat
  • ~ in Vale 1612 LeicW
  • ~ in the Vale 1615,1618 LML 1666 LeicW

Etymology

'Brant's farmstead, village', v. tūn . The OE  pers.n. Brant is common in East Midland p.ns., cf. Braunston, Ru 74 and Braunstone in the Sparkenhoe Hundred of Leics. AN  influence is responsible for -aun - spellings for -an -. Typical in Leics. are those forms which show 16th and 17th cent. loss of t in the group -ston .

The fee of Wandeville (?rectius Mandeville ) held four carucates of land in Branston in 1242 Fees. The affixes ~ iuxta Belver (i.e. Belvoir), ~ iuxta Croxton (i.e. Croxton Kerrial), ~ le Vale , ~ in the Vale (i.e. The Vale of Belvoir, v. val ) served as an aid to distinguish Branston from Braunstone in Sparkenhoe Hundred whose etymological development is parallel.