Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Bricstoc 1086 DB

• Bricstoke 1175 P 1206 ClR 1207 PatR 1246 Seld13

• Bricestok 11th Ch 1275

• Brichestoch 1095–1100 AC 1312 Cl

• Bricchestok' c.1165 NRSiv

• Bricastoc c.1180 PipewellA

• Brixstok(e) 12th Survey 1251 Seld13 1290 Pat

• Bristok 1379 Cl

• Brikenestok' 1222 ClR

• Birckestoc' 1226 WellsR

• Birggestok 1235 Cl

• Berkestok' 1245 Cl

• Byrxstoke 1370 Pat

• Brikel(s)tok 1236 Cl

• Brikelestoke 1346 Pat

• Briggestok(e) 1237 Cl 1343 Cl

• Brigstoke 1466 Ch

• Brydgstock 1614 FF

• Brukestok' 1255 Cl

• Brugestok 1315 Ass

• Briggestowe 1318 Fine

Etymology

The history of Brick Mere (PN BedsHu 214) probably provides the clue to the interpretation of this difficult name. Most of the early forms of that p.n. show that it is from OE  biercamere or beorc-mere , 'mere of the birch trees,' with hesitation between forms derived from bierce and beorc respectively. This name appears with metathesis of r as Brychmere in the 14th cent. Ramsey Cartulary. So similarly in that cartulary we have a place called Brycheholt , clearly for earlier Byrcheholt . We may also note Brykhyll (14thNthStA ) in Brixworth (Nth). In Brigstock we seem to have a compound of bierce and stoc(c), 'birch-tree stump,' or possibly 'stoc marked by birch-trees.' In this name the metathesised form is found earlier than the un- metathesised one; there has been the usual confusion between ME  birche and berke , later briche and brike , and also a further confusion between ME  briche and brigge .