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.

Walford Bridge & Walford Fm

Early-attested site in the Parish of Wimborne Minster

Historical Forms

  • Walteford 1086 DB c.1140 Ch 1340 FF 1225 Ass 1268 RH 1275 Ass 1280 1307,1326
  • Ponte de Walteford 1350 Wim 1365
  • Walteforde 1412 Cl
  • Waltelforth' 1280 Ass
  • Waltford 1323 Pat
  • Waltefford 1409 Midd
  • Waltesford c.1140 AddCh 1154–8 Ch 1340
  • Welteford l13 Wim
  • Waldeford 1280 1326 ib
  • Waldford 1620 Hutch3
  • Walford(e) 1535 VE
  • molend' follonicu' apud Walford(e) 1547 DLMB
  • East Walford(e) 1554 Hutch3
  • Walford(e)brydge 1560 DLCt
  • Walford(e) Bridge, Walford(e) Mill 1591 DLMB
  • Walford(e) Fm 1869 Hutch3
  • Wallefordbridg of 4 archis 1535–43 Leland
  • hundr' de Wallef(f)ord 1552 DLCt
  • Waleford Bridge 1591 DLMB
  • Whafford Fm 1861 Hutch3
  • Wallsford als Wayford Bridge 1791 Boswell
  • ii mol' aquatic' vocat' Waltefordmylles 1508 Cecil
  • Waltfford' myll 1578 Fry
  • Walford Mill 1869 Map

Etymology

Probably 'shaky, unsteady ford, i.e. ford difficult to cross', from w(e)alt and ford, as suggested by Ekwall DEPN. The first el. has been taken to be a pers.n. in the two 12th cent. Waltesford forms (unless these are for Waltefford ), and shows influence from w(e)ald 'woodland' in some forms. The road from Cranborne into Wimborne crosses R. Allen here. For possible earlier references to the mill(s) here (ii mol ' aquatic ' vocat ' Waltefordmylles 1508Cecil , Waltfford ' myll 1578Fry , Walford Mill 1869 Map), v. Mill Lane supra .