Bideford
Major Settlement in the Parish of Bideford
Historical Forms
- Bediford(a) 1086 DB 1201 Cur 1202 FF
- Bedyford 1356 Ass
- Bedeford(e) 1086 DB(Exch) 1210–12 RBE 1261–8 Exon
- Budiford 1232 Pat
- Budeford 1238 Ass 1291 Tax
- Bydiford 1238 Ass 1314 Ipm
- Biddiford 1632 Barum1,55
- Bydeford 1242 Fees778
- Byddeford 1446 IpmR
Etymology
This is a difficult name. Blomé (34) suggests a first element byden as found in Bidna infra 102, but this would not account for the persistent forms with medial i . It may well be for Bȳdingford , 'Bȳda 's ford,' Bȳda being a recorded OE pers. name. For early loss of ing , cf. s. n. Hartland supra 71.