Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Bleneford(e) 1086 DB

• Blaneford(e) 1086 1244 Ass 1327 SR 1332 SR

• Parva Blaneford 1205,1225 ClR 1236 Fees 1288 Ass

• Parva Blaneforde Martel 1210–12 RBE

• Blaneford Martel 1302,1339 FF 1391 Pat

• Blandford Martell 1506 ib

• Blaneford(e) St Mary, Blaneford(e) Sancte Marie 1254 FF 1426 Cl

• Blaneford Mar(ie), Blaneford Mary 1291 Tax 1340 NI 1397 Cl

• Blan(e)ford Beate Marie 1421 IpmR 1466 Weld1

• Seyntmaryblan(d)ford 1450 MinAcct 1488 Ipm

• Blandford maries 1575 Saxton

• St Mary Blandford 1703 Fort

• Blaneford Mon(i)alium 1316 FA

• Blaneford Philippi de Tylly 1242–3 Fees

Etymology

Parva (Lat  parva 'small') and St Mary to distinguish this par. from Blandford Forum and Langton Long Blandford pars. q. v. infra . St Mary is 'either from the dedication of its church, or because it belonged to the nunnery of St Mary in Clerkenwell' (Hutch3 1163); the latter association also explains the affix -Mon (i )alium (Lat  monialis 'a nun'). The family of Martel possessed the manor, or part of it, from the time of Hy 2 (Hutch3 1163), cf. William Martel 1210–12 RBE. The form Blaneford Philippi de Tylly 1242–3 Fees may also belong here, v. discussion under Langton Long Blandford par. infra . For the identification of the DB forms, v. Eyton 121–2, VCHDo 386, 91, 100, 110, DBGazetteer 117.