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.

Hickford or Thickfurze

Early-attested site in the Parish of Longfleet

Historical Forms

  • Hickford or Thickfurze 1795 Boswell
  • Thicfurs, Thikfurs 1374 MinAcct
  • Thikfyrres, Thikfurrez, Thykfurres 1463 ib
  • Hikfurs 1472 Smith
  • Thickefurs 1520 Rent
  • Thycffursys 1529 Ct
  • Thickfurses als. Hickford 1661 Hutch1
  • Hycleford 1543 Ct
  • Hyckford c.1586 Tres
  • Hickford(e) 1597 DROMap
  • Hicksfordes e17 BRA
  • Heckford or Thickfurse 1751 DROMap
  • Heckford Fm 1822 EnclA
  • Heckford Fd 1843 TA

Etymology

Hickford or Thickfurze (lost), Hickford or Thickfurze 1795 Boswell, surviving in Heckford Rd (6″), is Thicfurs , Thikfurs 1374MinAcct , Thikfyrres , Thikfurrez , Thykfurres 1463ib , Hikfurs 1472 Smith, Thickefurs 1520Rent , Thycffursys 1529Ct , Thickfurses als. Hickford 1661 Hutch1, Hycleford (probably for Hyckford ) 1543Ct , Hyckford c. 1586 Tres, Hickford (e )1597DROMap , Hicksfordes e17BRA , Heckford or Thickfurse 1751DROMap , Heckford Fm 1822EnclA , Heckford Fd 1843TA . 'Thick furze', from þicce 2 and fyrs ; the forms in Hick - arise from initial Th - being mistaken for the def. art. and then dropped as in Elbridge K (OE  þel), Ede Way Bd (OE  þēod), etc, whilst the final el. has been confused with (the pl. of) the word ford .