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.

St Bees Head

Other OS name in the Parish of St Bees

Historical Forms

  • Berh 1261 StB
  • lez berghe 1496 ib
  • saincte bees hede 1523 StBA
  • the Barugh or St Bees head 1777 NB

Etymology

( in Sandwith parish ) is Berh 1261 StB, lez berghe 1496 ib., saincte bees hede 1523 StBA, the Barugh or St Bees head 1777NB . These forms show that the original form of St Bees Head was simply ON  berg , ' hill . ' The old name survives in Cloven Barth ( 6 ″ ) on the headland south of St Bees Lighthouse .

Places in the same Parish