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.

Clifford

Major Settlement in the Parish of Bramham

Historical Forms

  • Cliford 1086 DB
  • Clifford(e), Clyfford(e) 1160–80 YCh 1175–90 1200 13 1219 Fees 1221 Cur 1620 FF
  • Clyfford(e) in Elmette 1298 Abbr
  • Clifforth(e), Clyfforth(e) 1343 Kirkst 1457 FountB 1502 Ipm 1657 WYD

Etymology

'Ford near the steep bank', v. clif , ford . The ford crossed Carr Beck, being later known as Old Firth (84 supra ). For the affix v. Elmet 1supra .