Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Bringenhale, Bringhale 1086 DB

• Brigenhal(e) 12 Leon17d 1184 RichReg 1241 Cl 1264–5 Ch 1283 Rich 1289 Ebor 1292 Ch

• Bryggenhal(e), Briggenhal(e) 1227 FF 1301 LS 1335

• Bringenhale 1280 Ipm

• Brigenale 1281 Ebor 1285 KI

• Briginhale 1300 Ebor

• Brygnell 1544 RichWills

Etymology

The forms of the first element of this name are difficult. The DB and Ipm forms may indicate a ground-form Bring-hale which underwent an unparalleled metathesis to Briggen-hale . Stiltons 73supra , similarly, underwent an otherwise unknown metathesis.

If this is the case we may have here an OE  Bryninga - (cf. Burniston 107supra ) reduced to Bringe - (cf. Finghall 247supra ); hence 'nook of land belonging to the Brynings' v. h(e)alh. Or we may have, as Professor Ekwall suggests, a Scand name composed of the elements ON  bringa 'breast' used topographically with the sense 'slope' (as in the cognate OSwed  bringher , Icel  bringr 'a small hill') as in such Norw  names as Bringa , Bringedal (NG xi. 38), and ON  hali 'a tail' (cf. NG Indledning s.v.). In either case the first element underwent the curious metathesis, which may to a certain extent have been due to analogical transformation with Northern Engl , brigg 'bridge.'