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.

Bedworth

Major Settlement in the Parish of Bedworth

Historical Forms

  • Bedeword 1086 DB
  • Bedeworthe 12th ADi 1361 Ipm
  • Bedewurda lateHy2 Dane
  • Beddewrda ib.
  • Beddeworth 1403 Madox
  • Badewrth 1199 FF
  • Badewrthe c.1200 AD
  • Bodewrth 1267 Ipm
  • Bedwurth 1221 Ass
  • Bedworth 1333 ADi
  • Bedworth al. Saunders mannor 1651 FF

Etymology

'Bēada 's enclosure,' v. worþ . In 1221Ass there is mention also of 'chemin de Bedeweie ,' perhaps called after the same man.Cf. Dugdale (78), “As for the name therof, I conceive it did originally proceed from one that possest it in the Saxons time, whose name was Bede ; the late sillable worth , signifying a habitation. In Domesday-book it is written Bedeword , the d wanting a stroke through it, which with the Saxons stood for th. ”Symon Saunders held the manor in 1651 (FF ).