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.

Turnford

Early-attested site in the Parish of Cheshunt

Historical Forms

  • Tonford 1278 Ass
  • Tunford(e) 1348 Ipm 1435 FF
  • Tunfordherne 1466 Cecil
  • Tonford marsh 1471–83 ECP
  • Tunford stone 1610 Sess

Etymology

Turnford is Tonford 1278Ass (p), Tunford (e )1348 Ipm, 1435FF , Tunfordherne 1466Cecil , Tonford marsh 1471–83 ECP, Tunford stone 1610 Sess. This must be a compound of tun and ford , but the exact sense is not clear. Perhaps 'ford by the farm,' It may be noted that the place is nowhere near Cheshunt itself.