Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• passag' de Wulmareslode 1248 Ass

• (passage de) Overlode 1300 Monast 1535 VE

• le Lode, atte Lode 1397 Ass 1487 MinAcct

• Querlode (sic for Ouerlode) 1447 Pat 1496

• le Lode de Seuernham 1527 Rent

• Netherloode, Overlod 1540 AOMB

Etymology

Lower Lode, Upper Lode, passag ' de Wulmareslode 1248Ass , (passage de ) Overlode 1300 Monast, 1535 VE, le Lode , atte Lode 1397Ass , 1487MinAcct , Querlode (sic for Ouerlode )1447 (1496) Pat, le Lode de Seuernham 1527Rent , Netherloode , Overlod 1540AOMB . From OE  (ge)lād, here in the sense 'passage over a river' (cf. EPN ii, 8–9); there has long been a ferry at Lower Lode across the Severn just below the entry of the Mill Avon, but the diversion of the Severn at Upper Lode to provide locks and a weir has eliminated the signs of one there.The term is used elsewhere for similar crossings of the Severn, as in Wainlode, Abloads Court and Framilode (151, 152, 179infra ); most crossings must have been by ferry-boat. The oldest spelling Wulmareslode contains the OE  pers.n. Wulfmǣr .