Great Driffield
Major Settlement in the Parish of Great Driffield
Historical Forms
- (on) Driffelda 705 ASC c.1100 ASC 705 c.1121
- Drifelt, Drifeld 1086 DB
- Drifeld, Dryfeld 1208 FF 1304 Abbr 1308 Ch
- Driffeld(a), Dryffeld(a) 1100–8 RegAlb 1149–54 YCh101 1155–1230 P 1546 YChant
- Magna Driffeld(a) 1294 Meaux
- North Driffeld(a) 1295 YI
- Major Driffeld(a) late13th BM
- Great Driffeld(a) 1466 Pat
- Muche Driffeld(a) 1570 FF
- Driffeud' 1118–35 RegAlb 1227 YD 1238 Cl 1244–6 Ass 1268 YI
- Dridfeld 1165 P
- Dreffelde 14th Sawley
- Driffyld 1519 FF
Etymology
The Anglo-Saxon forms make it impossible to accept Anderson's suggestion (15) that the first element is OE dryge 'dry' or to attach any weight to the d of Dridfeld . The Anglo- Saxon form suggests that we may have a compound of OE drīf , probably in the once-recorded sense of 'stubble' (Eadwine's Psalter), and feld . This may well be the meaning also of Driffield (PN Gl 55), Drifelle DB, etc.