Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Bontegrave 1086 DB

• Buntesgraua c.1150 AD15417

• Buntes Grove 1564 DLMiscBk

• Buntsgrove 1579 ib

• Bunch Grove 1839 Survey

Etymology

There is good evidence for an OE  pers. name Bunt . Buntingford (Herts) is Buntingford in 1275 (RH), Benton (D) is Bontintona (DB) and Buntingeton (1270Ass ), there is a buntingedic (Wo) in BCS 124 and a derivative name Buntel in buntelespytt (Ha) in BCS 674. The probabilities are also that we have a further example of this pers. name in Bonsall (Db), DBBunteshale . This name, perhaps originally in a weak form, would seem to be present in the DB form of Birchgrove. Later, t and genitival s by a common process developed to [tʃ] or ch . Hence, 'Bunt's woodland,' v. graf(a).