Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• æt Fagranforda 862 BCS535 late13th Finb

• Fareford(e) 1086 DB 1190 P 1498 FF

• Feirford, Feyrford 1100,1106 Tewk71,72d 1221 Ass 13,1231 Theok 1276 RH 1303 FA

• Feireford(e), Feyreford(e) 1100–35 Tewk71d 1231 Theok 1234 Cl 1275 Episc 1349 Ipm

• Feyrefort 12 Pat 1496

• Feyrevord 1290 Episc

• Faireford(e), Fayreford(e) 12 Glouc 1100–25 Pat 1496 Ch Hy1 Fees 1300 Ipm 1220 Rent236 1261 FF Ed1 1587

• Fairford, Fayrford 1221 Ass10d 1248 1261 Ipm 1709 PR

• Faierford 1204 P 1577 M

Etymology

'The fair, clear ford', v. fæger , ford , in contrast to Blackford (infra ); Camd (1590) renders it vadum pulchrum . The ford carried the road from Lechlade to Cirencester across the R. Coln.