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.

Little Barsden

Early-attested site in the Parish of Chiddingfold

Historical Forms

  • Butterdene 1548 LRMB
  • Bottesden lands t.Chas1 Loseley

Etymology

Little Barsden (6″) is possibly identical with Boterdenebrug '1358, Boterdenesbrig '1453, Boterdenysbrigge 1486Loseley , Butterdene 1548LRMB , Bottesden lands t. Chas 1Loseley . This seems to be a compound of 'butter' and denu , referring to a valley which provided good pasturage. See further Buttercombe (PN D 40).