Beorhtfrith

Male
DWP
4 of 5

Discussion of the name

Beorhtfrith is an Old English masculine name comprising the elements beorht ‘bright, distinguished, pure’ and frið ‘peace, security’ (von Feilitzen 1937: 194).

There are 21 entries for Beorhtfrith recorded before 1066 in the PASE corpus, all of whom pre-date c.1042. The earliest occurrence refers to the late sixth century and the name remained in use throughout the Anglo-Saxon period, although it may have become less common by the eleventh century. The PASE corpus suggests that use of this name was geographically widespread and the limited Domesday evidence is in keeping with this.

Bibliography

von Feilitzen 1937: O. von Feilitzen, The Pre-Conquest Personal Names of Domesday Book, Nomina Germanica 3 (Uppsala, 1937)

Forms of the name

Spellings in Domesday Book: Bricfert, Brihferd, Bricfrid, Briford

Spellings in Exon DB: Birihtfert, Brisfertus

Forms in modern scholarship:

  von Feilitzen head form: Beorhtfrið

  Phillimore edition: Brictferth, Beorhtfrith

  Alecto edition: Beorhtfrith 

Distribution map of property and lordships associated with this name in DB

List of property and lordships associated with this name in DB

Holder 1066

Shire Phil. ref. Vill DB Spelling Holder 1066 Lord 1066 Tenant-in-Chief 1086 1086 Subtenant Fiscal Value 1066 Value 1086 Value Conf. Show on Map
Cornwall 5,4,11 Caradon Brihferd Beorhtfrith 'of Caradon' - Robert, count of Mortain Thurstan the sheriff 0.25 0.50 0.50 B Map
Devon 13a,2 Swimbridge Bricfert Beorhtfrith 'of Bridge' - Sæwine the queen's priest - 0.75 0.25 0.50 A Map
Dorset 57,1 Frome Billet Bricfrid Beorhtfrith 'of Frome' - William Belet - 1.50 3.00 3.00 B Map
Lincolnshire 14,31 Killingholme North and South Briford Beorhtfrith 'of Killingholme' - Ivo Taillebois Odo the crossbowman 0.96 1.67 1.00 A Map
Totals

People of this name