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.

Kempsford

Major Settlement in the Parish of Kempsford

Historical Forms

  • æt Cynemæres forda 800 ASC 9
  • Chenemeresforde 1086 DB
  • Kinemereford(e), Kynemereford(e) 1086–1218 Glouc 1221 Ass 1283 Ipm
  • Kynemeresford(e) 12 Glouc 1220 Fees 1221 Ass 1236 Ch 1303 FA
  • Kynemaresford(e) 1191 Glouc 1291 Tax
  • Kynemerford(e) 1221 Ass 1258 Ipm 1268 Ch
  • Kynemersford(e) 1284 Episc 1285 FA 1354 Ipm
  • Kynemarsford(e) 1303 FA
  • Kynmaresford 1327 SR
  • Kynmersford 1356 Ch
  • Kenemer(e)ford(e) 1100–22 Glouc 1267 Ch 1287 Ass
  • Kenemersford(e) 1293 Episc 1316 FA
  • Kenmeresforde 1378 Ass
  • Kymmysford 1455 Pat
  • Kemysford(e) 1535 VE 1542 MinAcct
  • Kemmysford 1549 Pat
  • Kemsford 1577 M 1587 FF 1690 M
  • Kempsford 1610,1696 M

Etymology

'Cynemǣr's ford', from the OE  pers.n. Cynemǣr and ford, here probably referring to the crossing of a small stream which is now a canal feeder but which doubtless formerly ran into the Thames south of the village.