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.

Boxford

Major Settlement in the Parish of Boxford

Historical Forms

  • Boxora 821 BCS366 c.1200
  • (æt) Boxoran, (to) Boxorran 958 c.1240 ib
  • Boxoran 960 contemporary 968 c.1200 ib
  • Boxhora 1167 P
  • Boxore 1199 HunterFines
  • Boxhore 1241 Ass 1401–2 FA
  • Bovsore, Bochesorne 1086 DB
  • Boxhole, Boxole c.1180 Abingdon 13th
  • Boxhell' 1199 Cur
  • Bockesoure 1198 P
  • Boxesore 1369–70 ObAcc
  • Boxforth 1517 DInc
  • Boxworth 1535 VE 1538 RentSur

Etymology

'Slope or bank where box grows', v. box , ōra . The second el. has been confused with worð and ford . Boxford Sf has ford as its original final el. BCS 366 is spurious.