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.

Slinfold

Major Settlement in the Parish of Slinfold

Historical Forms

  • Stindefald (sic) 1165 P
  • Slindefold 1225 FF 1409 IpmR
  • Slindefaud(e) 1247,1285 FF 1296 SR
  • Sclindefold late13th BM
  • Sclinfaud 1271 Ass
  • Slynfold 1482 IpmR
  • Slingfold 1691 MarC 1741 Recov

Etymology

In dealing with Slyne (PN La 185) Ekwall suggested that in Slindon (St, Sx), v. supra 96, the first element might be a lost slind -. This element slind Ekwall took to be cognate with OSw slind , 'side,' which may well have had the further sense of 'slope' which belongs to some of its cognates. Cf. Robert de Slinde in Bexhill (1332 SR). Slinfold lies on the side of a hill and the whole name may mean 'fold on the slind or slope.'