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.

Beckfield

Early-attested site in the Parish of Binbrook

Historical Forms

  • Bekfeld' 1202 Ass 1329 Ass
  • Bekfeld 1535 VEv
  • Bekfelde 1393 Cl
  • Beckefeld 1224–42 RAv a1235 1316 FA
  • Bekefeld 1219 Ass 1240 FF 1302 FF
  • Bekesfeld 1219 Ass
  • Beckfeld 1555 AddCh
  • beckfielde 1577–80 Terrier
  • beckefield 1638 ib
  • beckefeild 1638 Foster
  • Beckfield 1659 MiD

Etymology

BECKFIELD (lost, approx TF 191928), Bekfeld '1202 Ass (p), 1329Ass , Bekfeld 1535 VE v, Bekfelde 1393 Cl, Beckefeld 1224–42 RA v, a1235 ib v, 1316 FA, Bekefeld 1219 Ass, 1240 FF, 1302FF , Bekesfeld 1219 Ass, Beckfeld 1555AddCh , beckfielde 1577–80Terrier , beckefield 1638ib , beckefeild 1638Foster , Beckfield 1659MiD , cf. Bek Hy2 (14) Dugd iii, Bec R1 (1308) Ch, and later Beckfield close , Beckfield hill 1577–80Terrier , Beckfeild hill e17MiD , beckfeald close , beckfeald hyll 1605Terrier , beckfeld close , Beakfeld hill (sic)1612Terrier , Beckfield (e ) hedg (e )1634Terrier , Beck field hedg 1664Terrier , Bec feid hedg (sic)1668Terrier , Beckfeild hedge 1679Terrier . The name seems earlier to have been simply Beck 'the stream' (v. bekkr ), to which was added feld 'open land, land for pasture or cultivation'. It is the site of an “extinct hamlet”, v. further DB xlix, and was named from the stream which flows beside Kirmond le Mire and which forms the boundary between the latter and Binbrook. Cf. bekfurhill in f.ns. (b) infra .