Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Luveford 1235–6 Fees

• Louef(f)ord(e), Lovef(f)ord(e) 1268 Ass 1285 FA 1288 Ass 1863 Hutch3

• South Lovef(f)ord(e) 1270 ChrP 1372

• Pudele Loveford 1285 FA

• North Lovef(f)ord(e) 1404 Hutch3

• 'Loveforde by Pudelton' 1409 Cl

• North Lovef(f)ord(e), South Lovef(f)ord(e) 1426 Weld1

• Lovef(f)ord(e) als. Lofford 1487 Ipm

• Loneford(e) 1321 Cl 1354 ADII

• 'Loueford(e) by Hynepedel' 1379 Pat

• Londford 1383 AddRoll

• Leford 1280 Ass

• Lefford 1346 FA

• Lufford(e) 1303 FA 1322 Ext 1586 Hutch3

• Lof(f)ord 1331 Fine 1539 AOMB

• North Lof(f)ord 1389 Hutch3

• Est Lof(f)ord 1412 FA

• Lovord(e), Louord 1331 1405 AddRoll 1428 Weld1 1431 ChrP 15 MinAcct 1438

• Lonord 1331,1332 Cl

• Louforde 1374 ChrP

• Lovehead Eliz ChancP

• Lovard als. Lufforde 1622 Hutch3 1795 Boswell

• farme of Loverd, Lovered farme 1641 Ilch

• Loverd 1664 HTax

Etymology

Possibly 'Lufa's ford', from the OE  pers.n. Lufa and ford, or 'ford used as a courting place', from lufu 'love' (cf. Maidenford D 26, Maidford Nth 41 (from gen.pl. of mægden 'maiden') and Playford Sf (DEPN), Plyford D 597 (from plega 'play'), which may have similar connotations). However a topographical el. OE  *luf- 'river valley, low wet place' proposed by Zachrisson DTR 146, KockF 407 ff, SNPh 8 83 (cf. also Luccombe Wt 47, Forsberg 169, Sandred 246) would be a formally possible, and topographically suitable, alternative for the first el. The ford was probably where the Dorchester-Piddlehinton road crosses R. Piddle or Trent (hence Pudele Loveford 1285) near Hr Waterston infra with which South Lovard has been identified (C.C. Taylor, DoNHAS 88 212–3, RCHM 3 222); this identification is supported by the mention of fossat ' de Southloueforde in the 13th cent, bounds of Puddletown. North Lovard is thought to be represented by the medieval settlement remains at SY 727958 in Piddlehinton par. supra (RCHM 3 210, cf. Piddlehinton f.ns.). Eyton 135–6 may be correct in identifying the 2 small DB manors of Pidele (ff. 79a, 79b) with (Lovard, Puddletonford, and Comb Deverel' (v. Little Puddle in Piddlehinton par. supra ), cf. VCHDo 385.