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.

Chalk Ford

Early-attested site in the Parish of Buckfastleigh

Historical Forms

  • Chelkeford 1474 Ct
  • Chalkford gate 1571 DuCo

Etymology

There is no chalk here, but the forms are late and may possibly go back to an OE  cealfloc (a ) ford , 'ford by the cal f enclosure.' Cf. Challock (K)æt cealflocan 833 BCS 412.