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.

Swinford

Major Settlement in the Parish of Swinford

Historical Forms

  • Svineford 1086 DB
  • Suineford 1175(p),1184(p),1199 P
  • Suineforda c.1155 Dane
  • Suinefort c.1200 ib
  • Svinesford 1086 DB
  • Swinesforde 1166 RBE
  • Sueinesford 1185(p),1190 P
  • Swynesford 1341,1344 Cl
  • Svinford 1086 DB
  • Suinford 1176(p),1177 P 1193 et passim
  • Suinforda Hy2 Dane
  • Sueinford 1175 ChancR 1176 P 1181 et passim
  • Swineford c.1130 LeicSurv 1166 LN 1315 AD 1333 Cl
  • Swyneford(e) 1225 RHug 1226 Fine 1370,1373 Banco
  • Swynford 1229 Selby 1273 Coram 1347 Banco 1348 Cl 1551,1555 Fine
  • Swinford 1561 Ipm 1576 Saxton

Etymology

'Swine ford', v. swīn 1 (swīnes gen.sg., swīna gen.pl.), ford . The reference is to domestic pigs. Occasional spellings with Sueines - and Suein - may show attraction to ON  sveinn 'a young man, a servant'.