Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Cunetesford 1086 DB

• Knut(e)sford(e) 1294 JRL 1332 ChRR

• Nether Knut(e)sford(e) 1476 Orm2

• Neither Knut(e)sford(e) 1617 Sheaf

• Knot(t)esford(e), Knot(t)isford(e) 1281 Plea 1282 Court 1307,e14 JRL

• Nether Knotsford 1672 Orm2

• inferior villa de Nether Knotsford 1415 MidCh

• the Nether towne of Nether Knotsford 1516 Sheaf

• Nether Knotsford, Nethir Knotsford 1419 JRL 1518 Plea

• Lougher Knotsford 1534 Chol

• Knottefford c.1292 Tab

• Knotteford 1381 ib

• Knotford 1486 MinAcct

• Knodesford 1354 Indict

• Knyzteford 1398 Orm2

• noua villa de Knottisford 1355 Indict, 1361 CoLegh

• le Oldton de Knotesford 1350 JRL

• senior villa de Knotesford 1382 Orm2

• Oldeknotesford 1350 JRL

• Oldeknottesford 1489 ChRR

Etymology

'Knut's ford', from the ODan  pers.n. Knut and ford. A local tradition reported in 1860, White 947, associates the name with King Canute, d.1035, and is alluded to by Webb (Orm2 i409) in the seventeenth century–'the name coming from Canutus, upon what occasion I find not', cf. Canute Place infra . The location of the ford is not certain. The 'brook Birken ' in White is the 'brook which they call Birkin ' in Webb (Orm2 i409), the stream running down between Nether and Over Knutsford into Tatton Mere, cf. Birkin Brook 115, and, for an older name, Sanctuary Moor infra . The ford may have been about Brook St. infra , or at the old ford at 101–756795 in 6″ OS. The modern town of Knutsford is noua villa de Knottisford 1355Indict , 1361CoLegh , 'the new town' (cf. Canute Place infra ) as distinct from le Oldton de Knotesford 1350 JRL, senior villa de Knotesford 1382 Orm2, Oldeknotesford 1350 JRL, Oldeknottesford 1489 ChRR, 'the old town', v. ald , tūn (cf. toun ), which was probably towards Cross Town infra and St John's 78infra , half a mile to the east. Cf. Norbury Booths 77infra . The old town was nearer to the present Birkin Brook and the old ford may have been about Booth Mill infra .