Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Hamtoneford 1205 FF 1244 Ass

• Hantuneford 1219 Ass

• Hantoneford 1238 Ass

• Ham(p)tenesford 1242 Fees773,783

• Esthauntesford, Westhauntesford 1286 Ass

• Littlehauntesford 1292 Ipm

• Hantesford 1303 FA

• Parva 1378 IpmR

• Little Hampteford 1326 Ipm

Etymology

There are three Han(d)sfords in the county, all in North Tawton Hundred: this one, another in Chawleigh and another in Bondleigh. The early forms resemble one another closely and it is difficult to assign them all to the appropriate place. Indeed one cannot be sure that they are all actual place-names, for Handsford in Chawleigh is certainly not on a ford at all and is most likely manorial in origin, i.e. for Handsford 's . The early forms suggest OE  hāmtūnesford , 'ford of (or by) the hamtun,' but the use of this latter word in Devon is extremely rare.Alternatively we might take it to be from OE  hēantūnesford , 'ford of (or by) the high farm,' but we know of no Heanton or the like in the immediate neighbourhood. No certainty is possible.