Beckhampton
Early-attested site in the Parish of Avebury
Historical Forms
- Bachentune 1086 DB
- Bakhamtun 13th ADv
- Bachamton 1216 ClR
- Bachampton 1242 Fees 1594 FF
- Bechampton 1249 Ass 1267 Abbr
- Beckhampton 1655 FF
- Bakanton 1268 Ass
- Bakenton 1535 VE
- Bakington t.Eliz LRMB
- Beckhampton al. Backhampton al. Beckington 1730 Recov
Etymology
This is a difficult name. OE bæc , 'back,' which might be palatalised in the dative form bsece , will not suit the topography, for there is no ridge here. There is a small stream, a feeder of the Kennet, which might possibly be spoken of as a bæce . This should in later English have given [bætʃ], [betʃ]. Cf. le Bache 1460WinchColl , The Batch 1790 WM xxxi in Durrington and Burbage infra 336. Some of the ME spellings point to this, but the majority suggest a pronunciation [bæk] or [bek], as in modern times. There was perhaps early confusion with the word bæc .If that could give ME bak and beche , the word bæce , which ought only to become bache or beche , may have been given an alternative form bak .