Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Haneford c. 1153–81 (1285) Ch (p), Chest (p)

• Hannford 1331 Chol

• Hanford 1394 ChRR c.1536 Leland 1548 Pat

• Hanford alias Handfurth 1576 ChRR

• Honeford l12 Facs 1335 Fitt

• Honeforde c.1320 ib

• Honefort c.1200 Orm2

• Honneford 1286 Court

• Honford 1249 Earw c.1270 Orm2 1287 Dow

• Honford in villa de Chedle 1372 Eyre

• Honford nigh Wimslawe 1669 Orm1

• Honforte 1338 Orm2

• Hondford 1238 ChRR 1623 Dav 1371

• Hondeford 1354 BPR

• Hondeforde 1498 ChRR

• Hontfort 1455 MidCh

• Hondsford 1547 Dow

• Hangford 1383 Cl

• Henforth 1440 Hesk

• Handforde c.1536 Leland

• Handford 1576 ChRR

• Handfort 1551 Orm2

• Handforth, Handfurth 1576 ChRR

• Handeforde 1565 Dow

Etymology

DEPN proposes 'Hana's ford' or 'cock's ford', from the OE  pers.n. Hana or hana 'a cock' and ford . Also possible is 'the ford at the stone(s)', from hān , (gen.sg. hāne , gen.pl. hāna ) and ford , which might refer to markers placed at the ford, cf. Stapleford, Honeford , Handforth 334, 332, 331infra . The confusion with OE , ME  hand , hond 'a hand', is paralleled in Handbridge 331infra . The ford was probably across R. Dean at either Handforth Bridge infra , or Bollinfee Bridge 222supra .