Bretford
Major Settlement in the Parish of Brandon and Bretford
Historical Forms
- Bretford t.Hy1 Kenilworth
- Bretford super Avene 1344 Ass
- Bredford 1199 FF 1227 1306,1315 Ass
- Bretteford 1275 RH 1293 Ass
- Beretford 1279 ib
- Bratford 1542 MinAcct 1601 PCC
- Bretford al. Bradford 1684 Recov
Etymology
No certainty is possible. The name may be for Breta-ford , 'ford of the Britons,' but we cannot do more than conjecture.The name would not be inappropriate as it takes the Fosse Way over the Avon. Cf. Britford al. Burford (PN W 38), with difficult forms, which perhaps have the same ultimate history. For a similar name we might compare Walter (PN Ess 239–40), earlier wealh -fær , 'British passage,' used of a ford on an old Roman road.