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.

Urchfont

Major Settlement in the Parish of Urchfont

Historical Forms

  • Ierchesfonte 1086 DB
  • Erchesfont(e) 1175 P 1332 SR
  • Earchfount 1605 FF
  • Erkesfonte 1175 P
  • Archesfunte 1179 P
  • Archesfont 1376 Pat
  • Archefount 1426 Ass
  • Urichesfunte 1242 Fees
  • Urchesfunte 1289 Ass
  • Orchesfunte 1259 FF
  • Orcheffunte 1428 FA
  • Archfounte al. Urshent 1564 FF

Etymology

This is a difficult name. Ekwall (DEPN) suggests that the first element is a lost OE  personal name *Eohric , corresponding to ON  Iórekr . Hence 'Eohric 's spring,' v. funta .