Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Brithumlee a.1209 Hall

• Brictumley a.1290 SheffMan

• Brightumleye, Bryghtumleye, Brightumlegh p.1200 Hall 1424 Cust

• Brightomlegh 1337 DodsN 1489 SheffMan 1691 Hall

• Brightholm(e)lee 1311 YDv,73 1568 SheffMan 1704 Hall

• Brightonlegh, Brightonlee 1342 DodsN 1554 SheffMan

• Brighthulmelee 1567 SheffMan

Etymology

The formation of an older p.n. with lēah 'clearing' occurs several times locally in Withamly 229, Mortomley 247infra ; the first el. of the last two is certainly of different origin and we need not therefore assume with Goodall that Brightholm - stands for Brighton - (on the analogy of Mortomley from Morton - according to Goodall's theory).The few -holm , -hulme spellings indicate that this older p.n. was Bright-hulm 'bright water-meadow' (v. beorht , ODan  hulm, ON  holmr), which was no doubt the lowlying ground by the R. Don, now called Holmes (235infra ) or Dyson Holmes, from which Brightholmlee Lane leads up the hill to the lee or clearing.