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.

Burford

Major Settlement in the Parish of Burford

Historical Forms

  • Bureford 1086 DB 1380 Cl
  • Burghforde 1285 Ass
  • Bereford 1301 AD 1349 Ipm
  • Boreford 1341 Ipm 1393 Cl
  • Burford 1316 FA
  • Burford upon the Wold 1449 Cl
  • Burford in the Olde 1502–3 Burford
  • Burforde on the Wolde 1510 Burford
  • Bourford 1322 Ch
  • Borford 1362 Cl
  • Berford 1327 Ipm

Etymology

Many of the early forms suggest that this name is identical in origin with Burford Sa, in which the first element is OE  burh, 'fortified place'. This place cannot be identified with the (æt ) Beorg feorda of ASC 752 A, of which the first element is beorg 'hill.' For Wold v. w(e)ald.

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site