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.

Thornford

Major Settlement in the Parish of Thornford

Historical Forms

  • ðornford, Torneford (rubric) 903 SherC(S516)
  • þorford 998 12 ib
  • Torneford 1086 DB 1212 P 1125(12),1145(12) SherC
  • Thorneford(e) 1163 Dugd 1249 FF 1288 Ass 1316 FA c.1500 Eg
  • Thornefford 1531 Digby
  • Thornford(') 1249 FF 1268,1280 Ass 1285 FA 1288 Ass 1290 Ch
  • Thurneford' 1420 Weld1

Etymology

'Ford where thorn-trees grow', v. þorn , ford ; the Thurne - spelling represents the related þyrne 'thorn-bush'. The site of the original ford may have been where Bembury Lane crosses R. Yeo, N of the present village. The bounds of the Anglo-Saxon estate of Thornford, dated 903 for 946–51 (12), are given in SherC (S 516).