Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Niwetone 1086 DB

• Newton Bromsholde 1605 Buccleuch

• Neuuenton(e) 1086 DB 1333 FF

• Newinton juxta Hegh(h)am Ferer(e)s 1309 Ass 1333 FF

• Neunton 1329 Ch 1428 FA

• Newenton al. Newton Bromswolde al. Newnton juxta Higham 1639 Recov

Etymology

'New farm,' v. tun . Bridges (ii, 183) remarks with regard to the addition Bromswold that for that appellation we can give no certain reason. That may be true so far as its late appearance is concerned, but the history of the name itself can to some extent be cleared up. There is a Bromswold eight to ten miles to the N.E., in Huntingdonshire, in the parish of Leighton Bromswold (PN BedsHu 245, 250). We may note further that Lutton in Northamptonshire (infra 204) is spoken of as on and as near Brouneswold . This place is some eight miles north of Leighton Bromswold, and this distribution of the three references to Bromswold suggests that it covered a wide area. This is confirmed by the only other records of the name that have been noted.Gaimar in his Lestorie des Engles , ll. 5548–54, tells us that when Hereward left Huntingdonshire, seven hundred men followed him to Bruneswald , and, soon after, he assaulted Peterborough.In the Gesta Herewardi as printed in the Rolls edition of Gaimar (i, 392), we read that Hereward escaped to the Bruneswald and into the great forests of Northampton. These last passages indicate clearly that Bromswold or Brownswold was originally a large area, probably of woodland, on the borders of Huntingdonshire and Northamptonshire. It seems to have included Leighton, Lutton and Newton within its borders. The name means the 'weald of a man named Brūn ,' with that gradual transition of sense in the word weald from woodland to open country, which is discussed in EPN s. v .