Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Besthaim 1086 DB

• Bestaine 1301 YI

• Bestaynmor 1320 Cl

• Bestayne 1342 Grainge

• Bestonmore 1386 MinAcct

• Beeston Leaz 1613 Grainge

• Bestaynmor 1320 Cl

Etymology

Beston (lost), Besthaim 1086 DB, Bestaine 1301 YI, Bestaynmor 1320 Cl, Bestayne 1342 Grainge 462, Bestonmore 1386MinAcct 04, Beeston Leaz 1613 Grainge 82. Despite the DB spelling (which appears to be adapted to ON  heim 'homestead'), this may well be another and earlier example of the word bee-stone (v. bēo , stān , ON  steinn), cf. Beestonely iii, 49supra . The site is not precisely known, but Beeston Leaz was described in 1613 as near Watling Street; Bestaynmor 1320 Cl is associated with the 'bank of Nidde ' (R. Nidd), which would place it further north.