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.

Ickford

Major Settlement in the Parish of Ickford

Historical Forms

  • Iforde 1086 DB
  • Ycford 1175 P 1220 Fees414
  • Ikeforde 1226 WellsR 1235 Cl 1235 Fees555 1246 Gross 1247 Ass 1300 Ipm
  • Hick(e)ford(ia) 1231 Bract 1361 Fine 1588 BM
  • Hicford 1235 Fees463 1247 Ass
  • Icford 1237 Cl 1255 For 1284,1302 FA 1489 Ipm
  • Ikesford 1241 Ass
  • Ikford 1247 Ass 1313 Fine
  • Hyk(e)ford 1289 Ipm 1366,1504 Pat
  • Ikkeford 1377,1392 Pat
  • Hikforde 1526 LS

Etymology

There is a well-established Icel used as a pers. name in OE.To this corresponds OHG  Ichilo , which is a diminutive of a well-established Icho . This must be the cognate of OE  Ic (c )a known only from p.n. Icangeat (BCS 240), Iccannore (ib. 64), Itchenor (Sx) and such names as Ickborough (Nf), DBIcheburna . There must have been two forms of the name Icca , one with and the other without palatalisation of the cc . Cf. similarly Eckington (Wo) and Etchingham (Sx) from OE  Ecca or Ecci . Hence 'Icca's ford.'

The central part of the parish is known as Great or Church Ickford (cf. LPxv. 613, 21), Little Ickford lies to the southeast (VCH ).

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site