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.

Hamfordshoe Hundred

Hundred in the County of Northamptonshire

Historical Forms

  • Anduerðeshoh a.1076 GeldRoll
  • Andferdesho 1086 DB
  • Hanverdesho, Anvesdesor ib.
  • Anfordesho 12th Survey 1220 Fees
  • Aunfordesho 1316 FA
  • Amfordesho 1202 Ass 1313 Ipm
  • Amphordesho 1265 Misc
  • Hamfordesh 1285 FA
  • Hamfordshoe 1346 FA
  • Alfordes howe 1541 Statutes

Etymology

'The hoh or hill of Andferhð .' The personal name Andferhð is not on record in OE , but we have Andhun , Antsecg , which is probably for Andsecg , and possibly Andscoh in Andscohes ham , though this has been interpreted otherwise by Björkman (Die Eigennamen im Beowulf 67). Names in -ferð or -frið are common in OE. The names in And - seem all to belong to an early period.Cf. further Andolfescroft in Geddington (1251 Misc).