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.

Gribbleford Bridge

Early-attested site in the Parish of Hatherleigh

Historical Forms

  • Gribbelthward 1532 Dartmoor

Etymology

The first element here is clearly the Devon, Dorset and Cornwall gribble , 'crabtree' or 'blackthorn.' The earliest reference in the NED is dated 1518, but already in the 1330SR we have Walter atte Gribbele in Crediton and Grybbelparke in 1386 (Ct ) in Dartmoor. -thward in 1532 is probably a bad form for -ford .