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.

Bradfield

Major Settlement in the Parish of Bradfield

Historical Forms

  • Bradefeld 1177 P c.1196,1210 Coxf 1225 Cur 1275 RH 1327 Banco 1319to1388 FF 1346 BM 1347 Fine
  • Bradefeld' 1212 Fees c.1250 HMC
  • Bradefelde 1269 Ass
  • Bradfeld(e) 1316 FA 1347 Cl 1548 Pat
  • Bradifeld 1333 SR
  • Bradefeud 1234,1278 FF 13 Coxf 1254–75 Val 1257(p),1269 Ass 1302 Bodl
  • Bradefeuld 1257 Ass

Etymology

OE  se brāda feld 'the wide open field', ME  bradfeld , with shortening of ā before two consonants (cf. DEPN). Characteristic of AN  influence are the spellings -feuld , -feud (v. Zachrisson 146).