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.

Benson

Major Settlement in the Parish of Benson

Historical Forms

  • Bænesingtun 577 ASC c.900
  • Bensingtún 577 ASC c.1000 ASC 577 c.1050
  • Bensingtun 577 ASCÆthelweard c.1000
  • Bensington 1231 Ch
  • Bensingeton 1316 AD
  • Benningtun 577 ASCWhelock c.1020
  • Benesingtun 577 ASC c.1075
  • Benesyngdone 1366 Eynsh
  • (from) Bynsincgtune, (in) Beonsincgtune 887 BCS547 11th
  • Besentone 1086 DB
  • Besenton' 1159 P
  • Besintone 1086 DB
  • Besinthon' 1199 Ch
  • Besinton' 1205 Cl
  • Besinton 1330 Ch
  • Bensintona 1140 OxonCh 1315 Cl
  • Bensinton' Munsorel' 1220 Fees
  • Bensent' 1143–7 OxonCh
  • Bensentun' 1156 P
  • Basingtun' 1217 Cl
  • Basington' 1237 Cl
  • Besingtone 1211 Thame early13th
  • Besington' 1246 Ass 1275–6 RH
  • Bussinton' 1268 Ass
  • Bosintone 1285 Ass
  • Bunsyntone c.1300 RG
  • Benston 1526 LS

Etymology

'*Benesa 's farm,' v. ingtūn . Ekwall (DEPN) assumes an OE  *Benesa derived from *Bana (cf. Banbury 411–12). Munsorel ' from the family of John de Munsorel , who had land here in 1242–3 (Fees).The family takes name from Mountsorrel in Leicestershire.