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.

Scurff Hall

Early-attested site in the Parish of Drax

Historical Forms

  • Scurth(e) 13 Drax14 1552 WillY 1615 FF
  • Skurth 1495,1503 Ipm
  • Schurt 1364 YDvi
  • Scorthe 1421 YI
  • Scourthehall 1548 FF
  • Schurf 1405 YI
  • Skarfe 1558 DodsN
  • Scurffe 1595 FF
  • Scurf Hall 1817 M

Etymology

v. ON  skurðr 'a cutting, a water-channel'; there is a small ditch here now called Willow Row Drain running into the Ouse, but the name may originally have denoted a larger water-course connecting Hawday (9supra ) with the Ouse. On the development of -th to -f cf. Phonol. § 49.