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.

Beauford Ho

Early-attested site in the Parish of Elm

Etymology

Beauford Ho. Cf. Beufeld 1299Ct , Beauford 13thEly , Beaudeforde 1308ElyCouch , Bealford 1316Cole xxxvi, 1321 Ipm, Beuford 1331 Ipm, Bodl , Bewford 1456 FF, Bewforth Hall 1597Wisbech Map , Beawford Hall 1611 Imb. The first element may be OE  bēaw , 'gadfly,' hence feld and ford where these insects worried the cattle. Cf. Beaford (PN D 86). The form Bealford is, however, difficult unless it is an inverted spelling.