Bulford
Major Settlement in the Parish of Bulford
Historical Forms
- Bultesford t.Hy2 Ch 1270
- Bultisford 1178 BM 1286 Ch
- Bulteford t.Hy2 1270 Ass 1249,1268,1279,1289 RH 1255 IpmR 1381
- Bolteford 1275 RH 1428 FA
- Boltiford 1227 FF
- Bultingford 1249,1268 Ass
- Bultiford ib.
- Bulterford 1332 SR
- Bultford 1341 NI
- Bultford juxta Amesbury 1383 FF 1541 Dugdii
- Bulford alias Bultford t.Jas1 ECP
Etymology
This is a difficult name. Ekwall may be right in his suggestion that the first element is to be associated with OE bulut , 'ragged robin,' the first element being either *bulutig , an adjectival derivative, descriptive of a ford with ragged robin growing by it, or OE bulut -īeg , 'ragged robin island.' The river here is divided into more than one stream. A possible parallel is Boultibrooke (Radnorshire) for which Charles (NCPNW 174) gives late forms Bowltibrook , Boultibrooke (16th, 18th).