Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Bedintun 993 WSLDeed 11th 996 c.1002 1004 11th

• Bedditone 1086 DB

• Bedintona et Pilatehala 1116–33 Burton

• Pilatenhale, Pylatenhale 1271,1286 For 1272 MRA 1293to1445 FF 1303to1362 Pat 1302to1471 Hatherton 1304to1418 Banco 1323to1485 Ass 1327 SR 1340to1382 Ipm 1362 AD3 1374to1456 Ct 1388,1427 Fine

• Pillatenhale, Pyllatenhale 1377,1428 Ct 1395 Fine

• Pylatinale 1349 Hatherton

• Pylatnale 1414 Ct

• Pylatonhale, Pilatonhale 1302to1379 Ipm 1304 Ass 1332 SR 1380 Fine 1392 Ct

• Pilatonhall 1271 For

• Pilatenhall 1319 CoramR 1341 IpmR 1374 Ct 1775 Yates

• Pyllaton halle 1584 Comm

• Pillattonhall 1505 Ipm

• Pilotenhale 1286 For

• Pilotenhall 1264 IpmR

• Pil(l)eten hale, Pyl(l)eten hale 1262 For 1326 Comm 1397 IpmR 1402,1414 Ct

• Pillet(o)nale 1416 Banco c.1430

• Pil(l)et(e)nall(e), Pyl(l)et(e)nall(e) 1390,1417 Ct 1545

• Pylletonhalle 1502 Ipm 1518 Ct 1519 FF 1535

• Pil(l)aton 1745 Ct 1755 Bowen 1834 O

• Pil(l)eton 1586 QSR 1591 ParReg 1726to1763 Ct

• Pillerton als Pillington 1652 ParlSurv

• Pillynton 1577 Saxton 1689 Lea

• Pillington 1628 PCC 1656,1680 Ct

• Pyllyngtonhall(e) 1518 1548 Pat 1603 FF

• Pyllenton hall 1617 Ct

• Pillin(g)ton hall Eliz ChancP 1603 FF

• Pillinton Hall 1604 QSR

Etymology

It is clear from the Burton references of 1114 or 1115 (1113–33) (v. SHC v (1) 28) that Bedintuna and Pilatehala were adjoining parts of the one site, the former being described as vasta 'waste', and the latter hospitata implying habitation and cultivation. This is almost the last we hear of Bedintun , 'the farmstead associated with Bēda ', v. -ing-, tūn , so we presume that portion remained wasteland. Pilatehala clearly remained the inhabited portion.Formerly the name gave rise to the most bizarre explanations (v. Duignan s.n.), generally associating it with Pontius Pilate. Ekwall Studies2 105, however, correctly, derived it from OE  pil-āte (pil-ātan n. pl.) 'pill-oats' and halh . A number of instances of its use in field-names occur in St, v. op. cit. ; for the bounds v. a later volume.