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.

Ampleforth

Major Settlement in the Parish of Ampleforth

Historical Forms

  • Ampreforde, Ambreforde 1086 DB
  • Ampilford c.1142 Dugdv.352 1290 Ebor 1323 BylE 1414 YI 1444 NCyWills
  • Ampleford 1167,1187 P 1202 FF 1327 Banco
  • Ampelford 1221–5 RegAlbii.56d 1247 Ch 1284 YI 1285 KI 1301 LS 1316 Vill 1347 Pap
  • Amplesford 1243 Fees
  • Ampilforth 1472 Fabr

Etymology

v. ford . Probably the first element of Ampleforth is OE  ampre 'dock, sorrel' and the forms with -l - are due to AN interchange of l and r (v. IPN 107). Hence, 'ford where sorrel grows.'Cf. Clatford (W) from clate and Larford and Ribbesford (PN Wo 34, 68).

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site