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.

Beechingstoke

Major Settlement in the Parish of Beechingstoke

Historical Forms

  • Stoke 941 BCS769 14th Misc 1260 RH 1275 Ass 1281 FA 1316
  • Stokes in Kanyngemershe 13th Shaston
  • Bichenestoch 1086 DB
  • Bicchenestok(e) 1304 Sarum
  • Bychenestok(e) 1327 Banco
  • Bichenstok 1327 Ass
  • Bichynstok 1403 Pat
  • Bychyngstoke 1431 ib
  • Bechynstoke 1513 FF
  • Be(c)chingstoke t.Eliz WMxxi
  • Beauchamp Stoke 1819 RCH

Etymology

v. stoc , 'settlement.' Beechingstoke lies on the south-eastern edge of the great 'Cannings Marsh' supra 249–50. The later distinguishing prefix looks like the OE  bicca , 'bitch' (gen. pl. biccena ), perhaps a nickname of reproach. Cf. Beechen Cliff in Bath (So), Biccheneclyve 1259 FF, Biccheneclive 1260 Bath Cartulary.

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Other OS name