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.

Brinton

Major Settlement in the Parish of Brinton

Historical Forms

  • Bruntuna 1086 DB
  • Brinton 1197 P 1220 Cur 1228,1329 FF 1237 Pat 1252 Ch 1254–75 Val 1330 Ipm 1695 Morden
  • Brimton 1220 Cur
  • Brintone 1257,1269 Ass
  • Bruntone 1269 ib
  • Brunton 1277 FF 1611 Speed
  • Brynton 1294 Pat 1302,1316 FA 1313 Pat 1321,1356,1408 FF 1328 DeBanco 1354,1380,1398 Pat
  • Bryntone 1330,1333 SR
  • Bryngton 1388 Pat

Etymology

Ekwall (DEPN) explains the first component of this name in -tūn, although it is strongly reduced, as identical with that of the neighbouring name of Briningham, i.e. the gen. plur. of a group-name in -ingas (Brȳninga -), 'of the followers of Brȳni ' or 'of Brȳni 's people'. Mills prefers a formation with the connective particle -ing-, 'tūn associated with a man called Brȳni (Redin 121). Smith considers Brinton to be a secondary settlement belonging to Briningham (EPNE II 190).