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.

Appleford

Major Settlement in the Parish of Appleford

Historical Forms

  • Æppelford, Appelforda c.895 BCS581 c.1200
  • (on) æppelford, (of) æppelforda c.1200 ib
  • Apleford 1086 DB
  • Appelford' 1175 P
  • Apelfordia 1224 Bract c.1250
  • Appulford 1322 BC c.1344
  • Appulford' 1383–4 ObAcc
  • Apulford 1535 VE
  • Eppelford' 1220 Fees
  • Aspelforde 1316 FA

Etymology

'Apple ford', possibly shortened from *æppel -trēow -ford . Appleford PN Wt 140–1 has apuldor 'apple-tree' as first el. The ford is referred to in the bounds of Culham O (BCS 760); it was on the Thames, N. of the village. There is no road crossing this stretch of the Thames now, but OS shows a road from the village which stops at the river.