Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Celvrecot, Gelvrecote, Givertost 1086 DB

• Gelvertoft(e) 12th Survey 1203 FF 1220 Fees

• Gelvretoft c.1220 WellsR

• Gyeluertoft 1223 Bracton

• Gevertoft 1235 Cl

• Gervertoft 1243 Cl

• Ghelvertoft 1247,1253 Ass

• Chelvertoft 1206 Cur

• Chelveristoft

• Gyluertoft 1222 Bracton

• Gilvertoft

• Jelvertoft 1235 ADiii 1276 Fees

• Jerveltoft 1244 Cl

• Ylverestot (sic) 1247 Ass

• Ilvertoft 1294 Ass

• Yelvertoft 1276 Cl

• Yelvertoft al. Jelvertoft 1290 Ipm

• Zelvertoft 1314 Ipm

• Ʒelvertoft 1315 Cl

• Ʒelurtoft 1370 ADA3465

• Jellerthopt 1321 ADiii

• Helurtofte 1328 ADiii

• Gilverestoft 1388 Pat

• Yellowtoft 1517 DBE 1584 FF

• Yelvertoft al. Yellowtoft 1609 Recov

• Yellowtaft 1714 StPetersNthParReg

Etymology

This is a difficult name. With the Scandinavian second element topt one would have expected a Scandinavian first element, but no known word or name can be suggested. An English pers. name *Geldfrith or Geldferð is a possible formation (cf. OE Geldwine and OGer Geltfrid , Förstemann PN 640). This name would explain the name Yelvertoft, provided we assume, as is sometimes the case, that in a name of this type all traces of genitival s may have disappeared. If this is the history of the name, it is very likely that at an earlier stage it had an English second element, later replaced by toft . That second element may well have been cote , and this would account for the hesitation in DB.