East Bedfont
Major Settlement in the Parish of East Bedfont
Historical Forms
- Bedefunt, Bedefunde 1086 DB
- Bedefont(e) 1198 Cur 1353 FA
- Bedesfounte 1315 Cl
- Bedefons 12th BM
- Estbedefont 1235 Fees 1441 FF
- Bedestfont (sic) 1235 Fees
- Estbedevonte 1336 Pat
- Bedfont east 1593 N
- Bedfunte 1279 FF
- Bedhunt 1373 Pat
- Chirchebedfounte 1405 FF
- Cherchebedfunte 1407 ib
- Bedfond 1649 SP 1754 R
- Belfound 1806 Lysons
Etymology
Bedfont is a difficult name. It is found twice elsewhere, (i) in Bedford Well (PN Sx 427), (ii) in Bedmond (PN Herts 76), the first element in both cases being in the form Bede -. It is clear that the second element is OE funta, 'spring.' In DEPN the name is interpreted as 'Bēda 's spring,' but it must be noted that it would be a strange coincidence if the somewhat rare word funta were thus found compounded on three occasions with the not very common OE personal name Bēda . We ought perhaps rather to associate the first element with the element bede (occasionally bude , bide , byde ) which is so commonly found compounded with wielle in the ME forms of certain place- names. The forms for these names will be found under Biddles Fm (PN Bk 216), Bidwell (PN BedsHu 128, PN D 410, 573, PN Nth 222), Bedlar's Green and field-names Bedwell's, Beddell, Beadle (PN Ess 35, 619, 623, 647), Bedwell (PN Herts 138, 224) and Bedwell infra 37. All alike point to an element byd (e ) denoting a 'hollow or depression' which is allied to the OE byden , 'tub, cask,' which is found in a topographical sense 'hollow' or the like in Bidna (PN D 102) and Beedon (Berks) (cf. DEPN s. n .). Note also the history of Bydemill Brook (PN W 4) and other similar names noted there. The absence in Bedfont (except for one form for West Bedfont infra 21) of any forms in u , y , i is a little disturbing but OE y in Middlesex appears very commonly as e (cf. Introd. xvii). Hence probably 'spring in the hollow.' There is no large hollow here but there may have been a small depression where the spring was. The form Bedhunt is interesting as another example of the common development of funt to hunt discussed under Chadshunt (PN Wa 249–50) and Cheshunt (PN Herts 220). East and Church to distinguish from West Bedfont in Stanwell infra 21.