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.

Pilford Bridge

Other OS name in the Parish of Normanby by Spital

Historical Forms

  • pilphre Bridge 1670 Terrier
  • Pilfer Bridge 1789 EnclA

Etymology

, 1664Terrier , 1828 Bry , 1830 Gre , pilphre Bridge 1670Terrier , Pilfer Bridge 1789EnclA , cf. Pillesfordholm e13,1244MC , Pilfordeholm 1337 Cl ( v. holmr ) , cf. Pilford brig close 1664Terrier , Pilford bridge Close 1671–77, 1707Terrier . It is on the boundary with Toft next Newton , from which parish some of the above forms are quoted , v. PNL 3 , 65 and where it is suggested that the first el . is either OE  pīl ' a stake a pole ' or ON  píll ' a willow ' , hence ' the ford marked bya pole or where willows grow ' , v. ford .