Bestwood Park
Major Settlement in the Parish of Bestwood Park
Historical Forms
- Bescwde t.Hy2 Ch 1356 Dugdvi 1205
- Bescwoda t.Hy2 ib
- Bescwud(e) 1221,1223 ClR
- Bescwod(e) 1247 Ch 1251 Pat
- Beskewuda 1177 P
- Beskewud(e), Beskewod(e) 1222,1246,1251 Cl 1252,1287 For 1275 Fine 1306 Ipm 1339 Pat c.1500 Map
- Beskewood 1524 DukRec c.1540 L
- Beescwde c.1200 Wollaton
- Buskwud' 1207 ClR
- Boscwod' 1220,1221 ib
- Beschewud' 1224 ib
- Bestewud 1236 Cl
- Bestewod 1377 Pat
- Beskwud' 1237 Cl
- Beskwode 1276 For 1280,1315 Pat
- Bekeswood Park 1523 LP
- Beskewode park 1547 LP
- parke of Beskewod 1597 For
- Bestwood Parke 1619 Wills
- Beskewood Parke al. Bestwood Parke 1650 ParlSurv
- Bestwood 1682 FF
Etymology
Ekwall (Studies 57) is probably right in taking the first element in this name to be a lost OE *bēosuc , a derivative of OE bēos (e ), 'bent-grass,' found in Beeston infra 139. Hence 'wood where bent-grass grows.' The forms Buskwud , Boscwod , not known to Ekwall, strongly support his suggestion. See also Bescar supra 89.