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.

Keysford Bridge

Early-attested site in the Parish of Lindfield

Historical Forms

  • Carleford 1296 SR
  • Carlesford 1327,1332 SR
  • Caseford Bridge 16th Rowe
  • Carsford Bridge 1724 B

Etymology

The Anglo-Scandinavian carl , 'man' (v. karl ), is out of the question in a Sussex p.n. and probably we have rather to do with a name of ME  origin, a ford belonging to a man named Carle . This surname is found in three different places in Sussex in the early Subsidy Rolls. Hence, 'Carle's ford.' See also Calem infra 382.