Survey of English Place-Names

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.