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.

Lovard

Early-attested site in the Parish of Puddletown

Historical Forms

  • Luveford 1235–6 Fees
  • Louef(f)ord(e), Lovef(f)ord(e) 1268 Ass 1285 FA 1288 Ass 1863 Hutch3
  • South Lovef(f)ord(e) 1270 ChrP 1372
  • Pudele Loveford 1285 FA
  • North Lovef(f)ord(e) 1404 Hutch3
  • 'Loveforde by Pudelton' 1409 Cl
  • North Lovef(f)ord(e), South Lovef(f)ord(e) 1426 Weld1
  • Lovef(f)ord(e) als. Lofford 1487 Ipm
  • Loneford(e) 1321 Cl 1354 ADII
  • 'Loueford(e) by Hynepedel' 1379 Pat
  • Londford 1383 AddRoll
  • Leford 1280 Ass
  • Lefford 1346 FA
  • Lufford(e) 1303 FA 1322 Ext 1586 Hutch3
  • Lof(f)ord 1331 Fine 1539 AOMB
  • North Lof(f)ord 1389 Hutch3
  • Est Lof(f)ord 1412 FA
  • Lovord(e), Louord 1331 1405 AddRoll 1428 Weld1 1431 ChrP 15 MinAcct 1438
  • Lonord 1331,1332 Cl
  • Louforde 1374 ChrP
  • Lovehead Eliz ChancP
  • Lovard als. Lufforde 1622 Hutch3 1795 Boswell
  • farme of Loverd, Lovered farme 1641 Ilch
  • Loverd 1664 HTax

Etymology

Possibly 'Lufa's ford', from the OE  pers.n. Lufa and ford, or 'ford used as a courting place', from lufu 'love' (cf. Maidenford D 26, Maidford Nth 41 (from gen.pl. of mægden 'maiden') and Playford Sf (DEPN), Plyford D 597 (from plega 'play'), which may have similar connotations). However a topographical el. OE  *luf- 'river valley, low wet place' proposed by Zachrisson DTR 146, KockF 407 ff, SNPh 8 83 (cf. also Luccombe Wt 47, Forsberg 169, Sandred 246) would be a formally possible, and topographically suitable, alternative for the first el. The ford was probably where the Dorchester-Piddlehinton road crosses R. Piddle or Trent (hence Pudele Loveford 1285) near Hr Waterston infra with which South Lovard has been identified (C.C. Taylor, DoNHAS 88 212–3, RCHM 3 222); this identification is supported by the mention of fossat ' de Southloueforde in the 13th cent, bounds of Puddletown. North Lovard is thought to be represented by the medieval settlement remains at SY 727958 in Piddlehinton par. supra (RCHM 3 210, cf. Piddlehinton f.ns.). Eyton 135–6 may be correct in identifying the 2 small DB manors of Pidele (ff. 79a, 79b) with (Lovard, Puddletonford, and Comb Deverel' (v. Little Puddle in Piddlehinton par. supra ), cf. VCHDo 385.