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.

Axford

Early-attested site in the Parish of Ramsbury

Historical Forms

  • Axeford 1184,1195 P 1279 Ass 1428 FA
  • Axford 1255 RH
  • Assheford 1289 Ass

Etymology

Axford is Axeford 1184, 1195 P, 1279Ass et freq to 1428 FA, Axford 1255 RH, Assheford 1289Ass . Probably 'ashes ford,' going back to OE  æsca ford , 'ford of the ash trees,' with metathesis of sc to cs as in Axford in Nutley (Ha), Ashore 1272Ass , Axore 1280 ib., 1330 Pat.