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.

Burniston

Major Settlement in the Parish of Scalby

Historical Forms

  • Brinctun, Brinniston, Brinnistun 1086 DB
  • Brinigstun 1091–5 YCh 1109–14 YCh
  • Brinigstona 1185–95 YCh
  • Briniston(a) 1108–14,1145–8,1155–65 Whitby 1314,1322 NRS
  • Brunieston 1150–60 Whitby
  • Bernestona 1161–84 Whitby
  • Briningeston(a), Bryningeston(a) 1224–38 Whitby 1279–81 QW early14 Whitby 1408 For
  • Brinneston 1259 Ass
  • Bryneston' 1301 LS
  • Brenestona 1314 NRS
  • Brenyston 1395 Whitby
  • Byrnyngeston' 1408 For
  • Burnysshton 1550 FF
  • Burston 1577 Saxton

Etymology

'Bryning's farm' v. tun . The name Brȳning (an ing -forma- tion from OE  Brūn ) is found independently in OE (v. Redin 165) and as Brýningr in ON (LindBN); cf. Burneston (Halik) 226infra . The modern form of the place-name is due to metathesis of Brin - to Birn -, which later became [bɔn] in the dialect.