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.

Milford Bridge

Early-attested site in the Parish of Wootton

Historical Forms

  • Milford Bridge 1606–7 Survey
  • Millforde 1608–9 Survey

Etymology

Milford Bridge (6″) is Meolcforda , Meolforda 958 (12th) BCS 1042 Milford Bridge 1606–7Survey , Millforde 1608–9Survey . Ekwall (RN 129) suggests that the first of the charter forms is the better one, and that Meolc - may represent an earlier name of the river Dorn.The water of the stream has, he says, a somewhat milky colour. There is a stream called Millke in Clanfield (313) and a Milkwell in Newton Purcell (232).