Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Metford 1425 Pat

• 'messuage called Metford' 1591 Hutch1

• 'lands called Metford' 1620 DRO 1795 Boswell 1811 OS

• the Mylne callyd Meateford 1552 Seymer 1682

• the Myll called Metforde Mill 1577 1682 ib

• Mettford Myll, two Tucking Mills…called Mettford Milles, messuage…called Mettford 1612 1682 ib

• Medford 1774 Hutch1 1870 Hutch3

• Metford' 1425 Pat

• Tucking Mill 1621 Strode 17

Etymology

Metford Mill (ST 586005), Metford 1425 Pat, 'messuage called Metford '1591 Hutch1, 'lands called Metford '1620DRO , 1795 Boswell, 1811 OS, the Mylne callyd Meateford 1552 (1682) Seymer , the Myll called Metforde Mill 1577 (1682) ib , Mettford Myll , two Tucking Mills …called Mettford Milles , messuage …called Mettford 1612 (1682) ib , Medford 1774 Hutch1, 1870 Hutch3, cf. Metford Water 1839TA . No doubt named from the ford (still marked 6″) where a road crosses an unnamed stream (cf. ad incursam aque de Ramysham 15Winch in the bounds of Bulrygge infra , v. Rampisham par. supra ) flowing into R. Frome near here, v. ford . The spellings are not early enough to be certain about the first el., but it is possibly OE  mǣd 'meadow' (cf. Metcombe PN D 51, Metfield Sf DEPN) or mǣð 'mowing' (cf. Metham YE DEPN, Matford PN Gl 2207, 3117). In view of the 17th- cent, reference to 'tucking mills', it is interesting to note that the earliest spelling occurs as 'Peter Toukere of Metford '1425 Pat, cf. also Philip Touker 1392Winch ; the ME  occupational surname Toukere , from ME  toukere 'a fuller of cloth', is extremely common in Do, there being for instance no less than 19 examples in 1332 SR, v. Fransson 101. There is another mention of a Tucking Mill 1621 (17) Strode in connection with Chantmarle supra .