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.

Frithfold Fm

Early-attested site in the Parish of Kirdford

Historical Forms

  • Frittesfald c.1280 Perc
  • Frythfould 1639 SRS14,221

Etymology

This is probably 'wood fold,' i.e. in the wood, v . fyrhþ, falod.

If any stress is to be laid on the genitival s in the first form we may compare Friesden in Berkhampsted (Herts), Frithesden in 1293 (Ch), with a reference in the same document to a wood in Berkhampsted called le Fryth .