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.

Beacon Hill

Early-attested site in the Parish of Hilmarton

Historical Forms

  • Bignall Hill 1773 AandD
  • Bichenehilde, Bechenehilde 1086 DB

Etymology

Beacon Hill is Bignall Hill 1773 A and D and is held by Jones (198) to be the Bichenehilde , Bechenehilde of 1086 (DB). If this identification is correct it may be that this name is a compound of OE  bēacen , 'sign,' and hielde , helde , 'slope.'