Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Traford 1086 DBf.263b 1270–71 Chest 1652

• Trafford 1287 Dow 1742 NotCestr

• Trafford Green 1671,c.1820 Sheaf

• Trafford Brooke 1671 ib

• Troford 1086 DBf.263b

• Trofford 1288 Plea 1294 ChFor 1446 ChRR

• Throford c.1330 Chol

• Trosford 1086 DBf.263

• Trochford 1096–1101(1280),13(1332) Chest

• Trochfort 1150 ib

• Trocford 1188–91 1240 P 1241 Lib 13 Tab 1295 Cre

• Trokford 1240 P 1291 Cl

• Trocfford c.1270 Sheaf

• Trocforde e14 ib

• Trohcford 13 Bun

• Throkford 1240 P

• Trouchford 1270–1310 Chol

• Trohford 1208–26 Facs c.1215 CoLegh 1267 Sheaf 1580 Chest 1274(p),c.1306

• Trhoford 1240 P

• Trogford 1240 Cl 1288 1398 ChRR

• Trogforde 1489 ib

• Trogheford 1254 Pat

• Troghford c.1272 Ipm

• Troghfford 1524 ChRR

• Throghford 1456 Pat

• Troughfourde l13 Sheaf

• Troughford 1304 Chamb 1354 BPR 1521 Plea 1524 ChRR

• Troughforde 1531 ib

• Trovford 1265–91 Chest

• Trouford 1267–8 Sheaf 13 Bun 1327 Ch 1328 Pat

• Trowefordia c.1268–95 Chest

• Troweford H3 Orm2 1325 Chol

• Trahford 1271 BW

• Traghford 1535 VE 1549 Orm2

• Trefford 1288 Plea

• Troght(h)ford 1290 Court

• Magna Trogthforde 1290 Court

• Magna Trafford 1528 Orm2

• Trocforde Magna e14 Sheaf

• Troghford Magna 1454 ChRR

• Trafford Magna alias Midle Trafford alias Mickle Trafford 1671 Sheaf

• Mekeltroghford 1379 Eyre

• Mykull Troghford 1416 ChRR

• Mickle Trafford 1616 ib

• Mickle Traford 1690 Sheaf

• Michaell Trafford 1679 ib

• Great Troghford 1398 ChRR

• Great Trafford 1549 Orm2

• Great Trafford alias Mickle Trafford 1616 ChRR

• Great Traghford 1549 Orm2

• Midle Trafford, Trafford Magna alias Midle Trafford, Midle Trafford alias Mickle Trafford 1671 Sheaf

Etymology

'The main part of Trafford', v. grēat , magna , mikill , distinguished from Bridge Trafford and Wimbolds Trafford 3261, 260. Mickle Trafford was in Wilavestun (Wirral) hundred DB. Trafford is 'trough-ford' from trog and ford . The Traf - spellings are partly due to ME  unrounding of -o -; but also partly to AN  influence by which this p.n. appears to have been interpreted as 'ford on a Roman road' i.e. Stratford with loss of initial s- and assimilation of tf >ff as in Trafford La 32, DEPN, v. strǣt , ford . A Roman road crossed R. Gowy at Trafford Bridge, v. 140 (Route IV). The 'trough' is probably an allusion to some characteristic of the ford itself, for the valley of the R. Gowy at the point of crossing (Trafford Bridge infra ) has not the aspect of a trough (cf. DEPN). There may have been a trough standing near the ford; or the ford may have been deeply worn for the approaches to it along low natural ridges of firm ground across the Gowy marshes were very narrow, which would compel all users to follow the same track at and in the river.