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.

Knaresford

Early-attested site in the Parish of Ripon

Historical Forms

  • Cnearres-weorð c.1030 YCh7
  • Kenaresforde, Neresford(e) 1086 DB
  • Cnardeford(e) 12 RegAlbiii,29d 1130–5 ib
  • Cnarreford 1147–67,1153–86 Font

Etymology

The first el. is probably OE  cnearr 'rugged rock', with Cnarde - due to the influence of Knaresborough 110supra . The second el. is OE  ford 'ford'; the OE  spelling with -weorð is probably an error, as OE  worð 'enclosure' does not normally occur in this part of the Riding. The ford is probably that which still crosses the R. Skell due south of Skelding. The name is now represented by the f.n. Knayser infra the position of which is on the hill near High Skelding (grid 91–213697).

Places in the same Parish

Other OS name

Early-attested site