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.

Matlock Bridge

Early-attested site in the Parish of Matlock

Historical Forms

  • pontem de Matelock c.1250 Beau
  • pontem de Matteloc Ed1 ib
  • Matloke brygge 1522 DuLa
  • Mestesforde 1086 DB

Etymology

Matlock Bridge, pontem de Matelock c. 1250Beau , pontem de Matteloc Ed 1 ib, Matloke brygge 1522DuLa . v. brycg . It is in all probability to be identified with Mestesforde (bis) 1086 DB. For the identification v. DbA xiii77 ff. The first element of this name appears to be in the gen.sg., but the only known OE words which are formally possible here are OE  mæst 'mast of a ship' and OE  mæst 'mast of beech, etc., for feeding to swine'. The exact significance of either of these with ford is undetermined.