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.

Ducksworth

Early-attested site in the Parish of Stagsden

Historical Forms

  • Dukesworth 1276 Ass
  • Dokesworth 1316 FA

Etymology

This name would seem to be the same as Duxford (C), DBDochesuuorde , and to mean 'Duc's enclosure' (v. worþ ), the pers. name Duc being inferred from such p.n. as Duxbury (La) and Dukesfield (Nb). The weak form Duca was still used in the 13th cent. in the form Duce . As the Bedfordshire forms are derived entirely from pers. names it is probable that this name is really manorial and originates from a tenant who came from the Cambridgeshire village of the same name.

Places in the same Parish