Bridford
Major Settlement in the Parish of Bridford
Historical Forms
- (of) Bridaford(es gildscipe) 1072–1103 Earle
- Brideford(a) 1086 DB 1438 Exon
- Brudeford 1253 Ch
- Bridford 1285 Pat
- Bredeforde 1399 Exon
Etymology
'Ford of the young birds' (OE brid (d )a ford ), i.e. frequented by such, or, perhaps more probably, 'brides' ford' (OE brȳdaford ).Cf. Breadwick and Maidenford supra 49, 26, and Bridwell infra 537, for names of the latter type and the difficulty of interpreting them precisely.