Somerset Fm and Bridge
Early-attested site in the Parish of Peper Harow
Historical Forms
- sumæres forda 909 BCS627 c.1150
- Somerford 1294 Ass 1298 Rental
- Somersford brydge t.Hy8 MinAcct
- Somersford c.1540 Ct
- Somersforde Bridge t.Eliz SACxxv
- Somerson Fm 1765 R 1785 Cary
- Somerset Fm 1789 LandC
Etymology
Somerset Fm and Bridge (6″) is sumæres forda 909 (c. 1150) BCS 627, Somerford 1294Ass , 1298Rental , Somersford brydge t. Hy 8MinAcct , Somersford c. 1540Ct , Somersforde Bridge t. Eliz SAC xxv, Somerson Fm 1765 R, 1785 Cary, Somerset Fm 1789 L and C. This is a difficult name. The first element can hardly be OE sumor , 'summer,' gen. sumeres , either from the point of view of form or meaning, for the correct compound would be sumor-ford , not sumeres-ford . An OE personal name Sumor is possible. Förstemann (PN 1368) gives OGer Sumar , and OE Wintra and Winter are on record. Cf. s. n. Summersdale (PN Sx 71), and the field-name Summersbury Copse in Haslemere (Somersbury 1548LRMB ). Possibly we should read sunmæres forda , the n -abbreviation having been omitted. For such OE names in Sun -, cf. the recorded Sungeoua , Suneman , Sunulf and Sunegod .