Beaford
Major Settlement in the Parish of Beaford
Historical Forms
- Baverdona 1086 DB
- Beauford 1238 Ass 1339 Ipm
- Beuford 1242 Fees788
- Bew(e)ford 1249 Ass 1435 Exon
- Beagheford 1281 Ass
- Bouford 1285 FA
Etymology
The first element may be the OE bēaw , 'gadfly,' found in Bowcombe infra 284, referring to a ford where these insects worried the cattle. Blomé (33) suggests that the DB form may represent an OE bēaw -ford -dūn , cf. Tiverton infra 541.