Lifton
Major Settlement in the Parish of Lifton
Historical Forms
- Liwtune, æt Liwtune 880–5 BCS553 c.1000
- liwtune, fram liwtune c.970 BCS1247
- Listona 1086 DB
- Leftun 1155 RBE
- Lefton 1209 Pap 1227 Pat
- Liftuna 1158 P 1331 Ipm
Etymology
'Farm by the river Lew,' v. tun . A change of w to v is evidenced in some Devon names, though usually at a later date.Cf. Meavy infra 229, and Introd. xxxv. In this case the v may well have been early unvoiced to f before t . For the reverse development cf. Woolscroft in Poundstock (Co), Foghelescroft , Foglescroft 1302Ass , Foulescroft 1508FF . Mr Alexander suggests that in early times the lower Lyd was called the Lew, the upper Lyd the Cory (v. Coryton supra 181), in other words that the Lew was regarded as the main stream, the Cory as its tributary.