Moulsford
Major Settlement in the Parish of Moulsford
Historical Forms
- Muleforda c.1110 Bodl
- Mulef' 1194 Cur
- Muleford' 1207 OblR 1212 ChR
- Muleford 1220–7 Eynsh
- Mulleforde c.1250 Gor
- Mulford 1517 DInc
- Mullesford 1130–5 Eynsh c.1175–97 c.1196 1536 ib
- Mullesforde 1144–7 c.1196 ib
- Mulesford 1271 Pat 1324 Cl
- Mullysford 1394 Cl
- Molesford 1194–5 Abbr 1327 SR
- Mollesford' 1242–3 Fees
- Mollisford 1371 Cl
- Mollesford 1377 Fine
- Molsford 1395 Cl
- Molef' 1220 Fees
- Moleford 1224–5 Ass 1390 Eynsh
- Moleford' 1235 Cl
- Moulesford 1600 Camden
Etymology
Probably 'Mūl's ford', though some of the forms suggest a weak pers.n. Mūla . The forms with -s - are more frequent than those without. Mūl is found also in Moulsecoombe (Sx 294), Moulsham (Ess 246, 257), Moulsoe (Bk 36–7), Molesey (Sr 94) and Molesworth (BdHu 246–7), but none of these names shows the alternation of forms with and without -s - found in the Berks name. All except the Ess names show the alternation of forms with -ll - (in which the vowel in Mūl underwent its natural shortening in these compounds) with the forms in which the long vowel was kept. The latter ultimately prevailed in all cases.
mules hamstæde , mentioned in BCS 565 in the boundaries of Basildon, must have been very near Moulsford, and may have been named from the same man, v. Pt 3. The ford may have been on the site of the ferry across the Thames.