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.

Bastenhall

Early-attested site in the Parish of Suckley

Historical Forms

  • Bastehalc 1275 SR
  • Bastonhall 1289 Ipm
  • Bastenhal(l) 1327 SR 1634 QSR

Etymology

This name suggests the same pers. name which lies behind Bastwick (Nf). Dr Schram suggests that this pers. name Basta is that which we find in diminutive form in Basildon (Berks), earlier Bestlesden and in Bæstlæsford (BCS 565) which is close to Basildon. For this, Stenton and Skeat alike suggest a pers. name Baestel . This may be a t -extension of the Basa found in Basing (Ha). Hence 'Basta's nook of land.' v. healh .

Places in the same Parish