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.

Prixford

Early-attested site in the Parish of Marwood

Historical Forms

  • Pirkewurth 1238 FF
  • Pirkisworthe 1319 Exon
  • Pirkesworthi 1330,1333 SR
  • Pyrkesworthy 1356 ADiv
  • Prikesworthy or Pyrkesworthy 1499 Ipm
  • Falleia 1086 DB
  • Fernlegh 1330 SR
  • Ferlegh 1333 SR
  • Verlegh 1486 Ipm

Etymology

v. worþig . The first element may be a British pers. name Piroc . This is not on record but would be a derivative of Pyr (Chrest 158). Cf. also Manorbier (Pembr), Maynaurpir , id est Mansio Pirri c. 1185 Giraldus Cambrensis, Enispir the old name for Caldy Island (Pembr), Caldei quam Kambri Enispir id est Insula Pirri vocant c. 1185 (id.).

'Bracken clearing,' v. fearn , leah .