Chilfrome
Major Settlement in the Parish of Chilfrome
Historical Forms
- Frome 1086 DB 1224 Cur
- Froma 1086 Exon
- Childefrom 1206 Ch
- Childefrome 1235–6 Fees 1263 Pap 1273–85 Ipm 1280 1288 1297 Pat 1298 Ipm 1505 et freq
- Childeferme (sic) 1251 Pap
- Chyldefrome 1280 Ass 1418 Cl
- Childe Frome 1288 Ass 1340 NI 1344 Pat
- Childdefrome 1332 SR
- Childfrome 1431 FA
- Childfrom 1603 Ct
- Childesfrome 1268 Ass 1273–85 Ipm 1297 Cl
- Cheldisfrome 1268 Ass
- Childeresrome (sic for Childerefrome) 1275 RH
- Chilfrome 1275 Banco 1664 HTax
- Chillefrome 1275 Banco 1276 FF
- Chilffrome or Chilefrome 1504 Ipm
- Chilfrom 1603 Ct
- Chil(l)froome 1653 ParlSurv
- Sildefrome (sic) 1280 Ass
- Chilesfrome 1439 Fine
- Chiddeforme alias Chil(t)frome 1474,1475 Pat
- Childeresrome (sic for Childerefrome) in 1275 RH
Etymology
One of four Do pars. named from R. Frome, v. RNs.infra . This one is 'estate on the Frome held by the noble-born sons', the affix being OE cilda, gen.pl. of cild 'son of a noble family'. The relatively small number of 13th-cent. spellings in -es -, -is - represent a gen.sg. but are probably analogical. The spelling Childeresrome (sic for Childerefrome ) in 1275 RH apparently preserves the alternative OE gen.pl. form cildra .
It is certainly significant that in DB this Frome was held TRE by '3 thanes jointly' (tres taini in paragio ), although an added note points out that William de Moion (the chief landholder) 'claims these three manors as two', cf. further discussion in VEPN 3 54–5, JEPN 36 67.