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.

Brown Hirst

Early-attested site in the Parish of Halifax

Historical Forms

  • Brouneshirste 1304 YDv
  • Brimshirst (sic for Brunshirst) 1379 PT
  • Brownshirst(e), Brounshirst(e) 1418 YDii 1489 YDv
  • Brounehyrst 1432 HAS
  • Brown(e)hurste 1572 Ct 1588 Rent
  • Brown(e)hirst 1623 PRKy
  • Bronesherste 1562 WillY
  • Brownest hurst 1597 FGr
  • Bromshurst 1635 WillY

Etymology

Brown Hirst, Brouneshirste 1304 YD v, Brimshirst (sic for Brunshirst )1379 PT (p), Brownshirst (e ), Brounshirst (e )1418 YD ii, 1489 YD v, Brounehyrst 1432 HAS 4, 226, Brown (e )hurste 1572 Ct, 1588 Rent, Brown (e )hirst 1623 PRKy, Bronesherste 1562 WillY, Brownest hurst 1597FGr 15, Bromshurst 1635 WillY. 'Brūn's wood', from the OE  pers.n. Brūn (or the ME  surname Brown derived from it and very common in the manor of Wakefield, WCRpassim ) and hyrst .

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Other OS name

Major Settlement