Ilfracombe
Major Settlement in the Parish of Ilfracombe
Historical Forms
- Alfreincoma 1086 DB
- Alferðingcoma 1167 P
- Aufredyncomb 1208 PatR
- Alfrede(s)cumbe 1234 Cl 1249 FF
- Alfrithecumb 1219 Ass
- Aufrithcumbe 1244 Ass
- Aufridecumbe 1233 Ch 1261 Exon 1269 Exon
- Alfridecumbe 1249 Ass
- Aufricum, Aufricumbe 1244 Ass 1262–76 Exon
- Aufridycombe 1291 Tax
- Alfrincumbe 1242 Fees784
- Hilfardescumbe 1244 Ass
- Ilfredecumb(e) 1262–76 Exon 1274 Ipm 1294 Ass 1309 Ipm
- Ilfridec(o)umbe 1279 Ch 1305 Ipm
- Ildefrithecumbe 1290 Ch
- Ilfradiscombe 1328 FF
- Hilfrincombe 1262–76 Exon
- Ilvercombe 1302 Cl
- Ilfercomb 1480 IpmR
- Ylfrycomb 1346 FA
- Elvertecombe 1322 Cl
- Ilfordcomb 1667 Cai
- Ilfarcomb vulg. Ilfracomb 1675 Ogilby
Etymology
Probably 'Ælfred 's combe,' v. ing , cumb . For the later spellings with i , cf. Elmscott infra 73. The exact form of the personal name involved is not certain. Some of the forms suggest Ælfriþ or Ælferhð . The early spellings show curious fluctuation between forms with es and ing as the connective link between the two elements. The ing -forms are probably responsible for the ultimate s -less compound.