Where does “Brentford” come from?

Brentford is an English place name containing Middle English ford, from Old English ford, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European pértus meaning a crossing or ford.

Brentford (English): on the north side of the River Thames. OS grid ref TQ1777

Definitions

  1. on the north side of the River Thames. OS grid ref TQ1777

Ancestry of “Brentford”, step by step

Brentford traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Ford

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishFordA make of car, named for Henry Ford
2Old Englishfordford
3Proto-West Germanicfurduford
4Proto-Germanicfurduzford
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpértuscrossing
6Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

via English Brent

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishBrentriver
2Old Englishbranttall, high, steep
3Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰren-project; to project; to stand out; to project;...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →Every word from Proto-Indo-European per- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European pértus →