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.

Briston

Major Settlement in the Parish of Briston

Historical Forms

  • Burstuna 1086 DB
  • Birston 1191,1192 P 1196to1345 FF 1200,1220 Cur 1209,1250 Ass 1243 Fees 1267 Cl 1275 RH 1291 Tax 1302,1316,1346 FA 1303,1334,1381 Pat 1348 AD
  • Burston 1203 FF
  • Brestona 1218 FF
  • Birstona 1220 Bract
  • Byrstuna 1230 HMC
  • Byrston 1250 Ass 1336 Pat
  • Briston 1252,1336,1349 FF 1288 Ipm 1350 Pat 1374 Cl 1402,1428 FA 1535 VE
  • Burstone 1254–75 Val
  • Birstone 1257 Ass 1333 SR 1359 FF
  • Bristone 1257,1286 Ass 1330 SR
  • Birton 1262 Ipm
  • Berstone 1314 Ipm
  • Birstune 1329 AD
  • Bryston 1535 VE

Etymology

OE  byrst1 'burst, broken ground', as in eorþ -gebyrst , and tūn. The name may be explained 'tūn by a gap' or 'by a landslip', which fits the topography of the place (v. DEPN and Mills).