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.

Stainforth

Major Settlement in the Parish of Hatfield

Historical Forms

  • Stenforde 1086 DB
  • Stanf' 1204 ChR
  • Steinford(e) 1086 DB 1199 Ch 1232
  • Steynford 1289 ADi 1341 FF
  • Stainford(e), Staynford(e) 1285 KI 1297 LS 1304 Pat 1589 WillY
  • Stainforth 1405 Pat 1530 Testv 1658 WillS
  • Stainf(f)urth 1546 YChant
  • Stannford 1498 HCY
  • Staunford 1498 Testiv
  • Steniforth 1521 WillY
  • Stamford 1585 WillY
  • Aetstanforda (c. 715 Eddi)

Etymology

'Stone ford' (that is, ford with a track of stones), v. stān , ford , and cf. Stainforth pt. vi infra . The ford crossed the R. Don. OE  stān has been replaced by the cognate ON  steinn. Cf. Stainforth-ford f.n. infra . Aetstanforda (c. 715 Eddi) might be identical with Stainforth.