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.

Berristal Head

Early-attested site in the Parish of Kirkburton

Historical Forms

  • Berystalhede, Berystalsyke 1499 WCR2
  • Beristall (campo voc') 1600 ib
  • Bearistall head 1709 WMB

Etymology

Berristal Head, Berystalhede , Berystalsyke 1499WCR 2, Beristall (campo voc ')1600 ib 11, Bearistall head 1709 WMB; this appears to be a compound of OE  berige 'berry' and stall 'place, stall' and would have a connotation something like that of Bairstow iii, 90 infra from OE  beger 'berry' and stōw ; any connexion with OE  borg-stall or even *beorg-stall 'place of refuge' is phonologically improbable, but the exact significance of the compound berige-stall is obscure.

Places in the same Parish

Other OS name

Early-attested site