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.

Sawbridgeworth

Major Settlement in the Parish of Sawbridgeworth

Historical Forms

  • Sabrixteworde 1086 DB
  • Sebrihteswrde 1118 WAM
  • Sebrichteworde 1159 RBE
  • Sebricteswrth 1222 Pat
  • Sebrittheswurth 1228 FF
  • Sebricteworth 1237 Cl
  • Sebrichewurth 1245 Ch
  • Sebrithteswrth 1248 Ass
  • Sebrightesworth 1296 Extent
  • Sabrichteworda 1130 P
  • Sabrihteswrda 1159 WAM 1321 Ipm
  • Sabrichewurth 1248 Ass
  • Sabrichesworde 1255 FF(Mx)
  • Sabriccheworth 1402 FA
  • Sabrigeworth 1338 Pat 1428 FA
  • Sabrigeford 1444 FF
  • Sabrugesworth 1405 WAM
  • Sabrydgesworth 1526 AD
  • Saprysford 1411 FF
  • Sabrysworth 1469 AD
  • Sabresford 1469 Pat
  • Sabrysford al. Sabrysworth(e) 1475 FF 1485 ADiii
  • Sabbisford 1489 Glasscock
  • Sabysford 1499 Ipm
  • Sabesford 1549 Pat
  • Sapsworth 1565 Cai
  • Sapsforde, Sappesworth 1568 WAM
  • Sabsworth or Sabridgeforde 1598 N
  • Sapsforth al. Sabridgeworth 1607 Recov
  • Sabridgeworth al. Sapsford 1646 ib
  • Sabridgeworth al. Sawbridgeworth 1770 Recov

Etymology

'Farm of Sǣbeorht (Sǣbriht ),' v. worþ . For the development cf. Sepscott (PN D 68). The second syllable seems early to have been associated with bridge , but the initial Saw- has not been noted earlier than 1770.