Brampton
Major Settlement in the Parish of Brampton
Historical Forms
- Brantuna 1086 DB
- Branton 1198 Abbrev 1199,1206 P 1209 Ass 1198to1346 FF 1275 RH 1307 DeBanco
- Bramptone 1254–75 Val 1257,1269,1286 Ass
- Bramtone 1254 NfA 1266 Tanner
- Brampton 1256 Cl 1270,1324–7 Ipm 1341 Cl 1383,1548 Pat 1535 VE
- Brantone 1257,1269 Ass
- Bramton 1261–9,1262 Ipm 1401–2 FA
Etymology
OE brōm and tūn, 'farmstead where broom grows'. Many place- names illustrate the development to Bram (p )- after shortening of the long ō , the reason being, according to Smith, that many ME dialects had only short -a - before a nasal instead of -o - (v. EPNE s.v. brōm ). Forms with intrusive p between m and a dental are to be expected (cf. Bumpstead Ess in Sandred 1963: 196 f.).
Numerous Roman remains have been found at Brampton. Among the early excavators was Sir Thomas Browne, quoted by Blomefield (VI 427, 430 f.). Modern archaeology has shown that this place was the site of a fortified Roman town with an earthwork around it and extensive suburbs, where pottery was made (v. further under Burgh-next-Aylsham and Oxnead infra ).