Toponymy
The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete, but is retained by an American town. The name is first recorded in the 10th century and is believed to derive from the Old English bearde, meaning "battle-axe", and stapol, meaning "pillar", referring to a post or pillar set up to mark a religious or administrative meeting place. The belief that the name derives from staple meaning "market", indicating that there was a market here from the foundation of the settlement, is incorrect, because the use of staple in that sense is not recorded in England before 1423.
Barnstaple was formerly referred to as "Barum". The origin of this name is obscure, but it has been in use since Saxon times. The Latin form of the name (ad Barnastapolitum (?) ) was reduced to ad Barum in the Latin documents of the time such as the episcopal registers of the Diocese of Exeter. Barum was mentioned by Shakespeare, and the name was revived and popularised in Victorian times, when it featured in several contemporary novels. The name Barum is retained in the names of a football team, brewery, and of several local businesses. The former Brannam's pottery works which was sited in Litchdon Street was known for its trademark "Barum" etched on the base of its products.
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