Watford
Major Settlement in the Parish of Watford
Historical Forms
- Watford 1086 DB
- Watford near Daventre 1299 Cl
- Watforth 1307 Ipm
- Wadford 1176 P
- Wadforð 1177 P
- Wateford 1235 Fees
- Watteford(e) 1285 Ass 1291 Cl 1302,1364 ADiv 1401 Cl
- Wathford 1238 WellsR 1290 Ch
- Watford juxta Buckeby 1280 DeedsEnrolled
Etymology
This name would seem to be identical with Watford (Herts), Watford 944–6 (c. 1250) BCS 812, 1007 Crawf 11et passim , except Wetford 12th AD iii, Wathford (a )1188 MP, 1219 Pap, 1225 Bracton. It is not an easy name. It should be noted that the two OE forms respectively come from a late cartulary in which the forms are hardly to be relied upon, and from an 11th century original. The spellings with Wad - and Wath - suggest that the t may not be original, but due to later assimilation of d or th to the following f . One possibility is that the first element is OE wæd, 'place for wading,' hence perhaps wæd -ford , 'a ford which can be crossed by wading.' The other is that the first element is OE wāð , 'hunting.' Hence perhaps 'ford used by hunters.' The wæd interpretation is the more likely, for there is more probability of d being unvoiced to t before following f , than of th becoming t before f . An early wāð -ford would probably have given Wofford .