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.

Lydford

Early-attested site in the Parish of Cowfold

Historical Forms

  • Lodeford 1373 SAC62,139
  • Loodford 1659,1746 SAC62,143–5
  • Lidford 1636 SAC60,55

Etymology

There is nothing but a cart-track here and the name is probably a compound of OE  lad and ford. Hence 'ford carrying a track.' The name is apparently of late formation from ME  lode , otherwise it would probably have yielded Ladford . The modern form is corrupt.