Batsford
Major Settlement in the Parish of Batsford
Historical Forms
- (æt) Bæccesore 716–43 BCS163 11th
- Bæcces(h)oran 11th Heming
- Bæceoran 961–72 Finb
- Beceshore 1086 DB
- Bechesore 1196,1199 FF
- Becheshor' 1249 FF
- Bechesoure 1220 Fees 1273 FF
- Bechesofere 1236 Fees
- Bechesouere 1248 Ass
- Begesoure 1235 Ipm
- Bagessoure 1291 Episc
- Bagesovere 1236 Fees
- Baggeshor(e) 1274,1276 RH 1287 Ass
- Bac(c)hesor(e) 1235,1268 Ipm 1269 Episc 1284 Ass 1287 FF 1535 VE
- Bac(c)hesor(e) als. Battesforde 1610 FF
- Bachesour 1277 Episc
- Bacheshore 1285 FA 1309 FF
- Bacheser 1303 FA
- Batysore 1541 FF
- Battisore 1547 Pat
- Batsore als. Batshore als. Bachesore 1577 FF
- Batsore als. Battesford 1630 Inq
- Bat(t)esford(e) 1577 M 1587 FF 1610,1695 M
- Batsford 1685 PR
- Batchford als. Battisford 1646 FF
Etymology
'Bæcci's slope', v. ōra 1 ; the ME spellings in -ofere , -ou (e )re represent a substitution of OE ofer2 'slope, ridge' (cf. EPN ii, 54, 55). It refers to the steep hillside rising to the north-west of the flat terrain of Moreton in Marsh. The pers.n. is an OE Bæcci (a derivative of the recorded Bacca ), evidenced only in p.ns. like Batchmere's Fm (Sx 80) and Batchworth (Hrt 81). The modern form Batsford is an inverted one, which arose when ME -ts - was assimilated to -ch - (cf. Phonol. § 44a ); -ford is due to popular etymology, but there is no ford here.