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.

Tuxford

Major Settlement in the Parish of Tuxford

Historical Forms

  • Tuxfarne 1086 DB
  • Tuxforne 1273 Ipm
  • Tusfort 1130–45 OxonCh
  • Tuffort 1166 P
  • Cufford Alani 1167 ib
  • Cufford Alani filii Jord' 1167 CR
  • Tukesford t.Hy2 Ch 1316 Fees 1212 ClR 1223 Ipm 1256 RH 1276 Ass 1280 Fine 1292 FF 1294 FA 1316 DbCh 1420
  • Tuxeford 1227 Ebor 1231–9 Ch 1242 FF
  • Tuckefordia 1230 Bracton
  • Tuxford 1231–9 Ch 1301 Ipm 1346 FA
  • Tuxforthe 1380 IpmR
  • Thuxford 1231–9 Ch
  • Tuxford in the Clay 1330 FF
  • Tukysford in le Clay 1420 DbCh
  • Tukisford 1235 Fees
  • Tukysford 1420 DbCh
  • Tuggesford 1256 Ipm
  • Tuckesford 1273–88 Ipm c.1300 For
  • Tokesford 1284 Blyth 1285 Ch 1290 Abbr 1291 1294 Ass 1365 Pat
  • Tokesforth, Tockisforth 1292–1300 Ipm
  • Thokesford 1328 Ch
  • Touxford 1337 ib
  • Tocheswelle 1086 DB
  • Tukeswelle 1226, 1228 FF, 1238 Ass

Etymology

This is a name about which no certainty is possible. ODan  Tuki is on record but does not quite fit the forms, while the name Tuk is only found in Besi Tuk (KCD 795), a Croyland forgery (cf. NP 143 n.). In later documents, while we have some thirty- five examples in the 12th century of Tuki , Tochi , Tuche we have only one Toch , so that a strong form Tuk seems unlikely. The possibility of some OE personal name is suggested by Tuxwell in Spaxton (So), Tocheswelle 1086 DB, Tukeswelle 1226, 1228 FF, 1238Ass . In view of the curious DB form, however, with its later echo in a 13th-century inquisition, we had perhaps best leave the interpretation an open question.

Alan son of Jordan was dapifer to the archbishop of Dol. He belonged to a family in great favour with Henry I (Round, Peerage and Family History 120–31). The Rufford Cartulary (f. 169) contains a charter by which he grants land in Walesby and Kirton, members of Tuxford, to one of his men. It is witnessed by Thoca the reeve of Tuxford.