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.

Ditchford on Fosse

Early-attested site in the Parish of Blockley

Historical Forms

  • Dicford c.1052 ASChartcxi 1086 DB
  • Dicheford' 1221 Eyre
  • Dicheforde 1661 GR368

Etymology

Ditchford on Fosse, Dicford c. 1052 ASChart cxi, 1086 DB, Dicheford '1221 Eyre, Dicheforde 1661GR 368. 'Dike ford', v. dīc , ford .Here the Fosse Way crosses Paddle Brook or Knee Brook; OE  dīc may here be used as a translation of the Lat  fossa 'ditch' of the road-name.