Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Birnebeha' 1086 DB

• Bernebeam 1135–40 YCh65

• Birnebem, Byrnebem 1140–1308 Font 1185 Templar c.1190 Fount 1190–1210 YCh524 1216–46 RegAlbi,73d,iii,10d,68 1251 FF

• Birnbem 1597 FF

• Brynbem 1198 Fount 1317 Font

• Brembeme 1220–46 RegAlbiv,15d

• Brymbem(e), Brimbem(e) 1220–46 RegAlbiv,15d 1358 Vyner 1457 FountBurs 1496 FountRent 1516–38 Fount 1605 FF

• Brimbem(e) als. Brymham 1560 NCWills 1576 FF

• Brimbham c.1220 Vyner 1615 FF

• Brimbam als. Brimham 1592 Arm

• Brim-, Brimham 1268 YI 1481 RipAct 1603 PRHmp

• Brymhem 1563 Arm

• Brimom 1679 PRHmp

Etymology

'Byrna's tree', v. bēam . The first el. is an OE  pers.n. Byrna which has been suggested for Burnham Bk 216 and considered to exist in an assimilated form in the recorded Bynna (Redin 61–2). But it may rather be a metathesised form of Brȳne (from the root brūn 'brown').It could also be 'tree left standing in a place cleared by burning' (v. bryne ).