Origin of the town's name Berkhamsted
joan blaeu map of hertfordshire 1659 showing barkhamsted [sic], 1 of many archaic spellings of town s name
the earliest recorded spelling of town s name 10th century anglo-saxon beorhðanstædæ. first part may have originated either old english words beorg, meaning hill , or berc or beorc, meaning birch ; or older old celtic word bearroc, meaning hilly place . latter part, hamsted , derives old english word homestead. town s name either mean homestead amongst hills or homestead among birches .
local historian percy birtchnell identified on 50 different spellings , epithets town s name since writing of domesday book; present spelling adopted in 1937. other spellings included: berkstead , berkampsted , berkhampstead , muche barkhamstede , berkhamsted magna , great berkhamsteed , berkhamstead . town s local nickname berko .
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