Church Lawford
Major Settlement in the Parish of Church Lawford
Historical Forms
- Lellevorc 1077 Monast 17th
- Leileforde 1086 DB
- Ledleford c.1090 France
- Lelleford 1143 PipewellReg early13th BM
- Lelesforde 1161–70 France
- Lalleford t.Hy2 BM 1235 Ch 1235 Fees 1272,1281 Ipm 1283 Ch
- Lallford 1445 MinAcct
- Kirkelalleford c.1204 AD
- Chirche Lalleford 1235 Ch 1406 ADiii
- Cherchelaleford 1272 Ass
- Chyrcelalford 1308 BM
- Chyrchelalford 1388 Cl
- Chirche Lalford 1460 ADiv
- Chirlafford 1336 QW
- Church Lawford 1535 VE
Etymology
See also s. n . Little Lawford supra 115 and Long Lawford infra 138. Comparison of the early forms of this name and those for Lawford (PN Ess 342) makes it somewhat doubtful whether the history of the two names is the same. The early forms Ledle Leile -, Lelle - (four times), Lille - and Lele -, as against the two forms in Lele - for the Essex name, make derivation from an OE Lealla unlikely. Possibly as for Leybourne (PN Sr 197) we should suggest association with OE lǣl (a ), 'twig, withy,' and interpret the name as 'withy-ford.' The chief difficulty in such an interpretation would be the persistent ll in the ME forms.