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.

Driffield

Major Settlement in the Parish of Driffield

Historical Forms

  • Drifelle 1086 DB
  • Drifeud 1248 Ass
  • Drifeld 1540 Monast
  • Dryfielde 1316 FA
  • Driffeld 1190 P 1221 Ass Hy3 Surv 1287 Ass 1289 Episc 1587 FF
  • Dryffyld 1571 ib

Etymology

Probably 'stubble field', v. drīf , feld , but it could be 'dirt field' (v. drit ) with an assimilation of -tf - to -ff - which Ekwall assumes for Driffield (YE 153, Ekwall, EtymNotes 43).

Places in the same Parish