Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Begale 1086 DB

• Begala(m) 1147–54,1154 YCh1475,1501

• Bechala 1121–7 Nost4d

• Bekhala 1154–8 YCh1499

• Bexalam c.1154 Pont

• Begehal Hy2 Ch 1230 YCh1451

• Becchehale 1215 ChR

• Beghal(e) 1234 FF 1296 LacyComp 1317,1323 MinAcct 1341 Surv 1343 Ass

• Begheale 1337 FF

• Beghalle 1379 PT

• Beghhall 1316 Vill

• Beighale 1368 MinAcct

• Beighall 1555 TestLds

• Beal(l) 1529 TestLds 1535 VE

• Beal(l) als. Beghall 1584 FF

• Beagh(h)all 1641 Rates 1822 Langd

Etymology

'Nook of land in the bend of a river', v. bēag , halh . The reference may be to the land across the Aire from Beal village; this oval stretch of land is completely surrounded by the Aire itself and Old Eye (which is doubtless an old course of the Aire and which formed the bēag ).