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.

Guarlford

Early-attested site in the Parish of Great Malvern

Historical Forms

  • Garlford 1275 SR
  • Garleford 1291 Tax 1535 VE 1541 LP
  • Galvert 1820 G
  • Galfords Court c.1830 O

Etymology

There is a name Gerling found in DB, which Forssner (108) suggests may be a derivative of the name Gerlo , of continental origin. This continental name would explain Guarlford if it is of post-Conquest origin. On the other hand, there is evidence for OE  names in Gǣr -, as in Geruald and Geruini in LVD.There may have been an OE  Gǣrla , a pet-formation from such names. So the name might be pre-Conquest in origin, hence 'ford of Gerlo or of Gǣrla .' One of these names must lie behind Garliford (D), 1333 SR Gerlaford .