In a message dated 09/11/2009 21:04:11 GMT Standard Time, johnayton@hotmail.co.uk writes: is there a place called Gainforth or would this be another name for Gainford???? Yours John Ayton John: The endings "-forth" and "-forth" are interchangeable on a large range of placenames and surnames, at least throughout the NE of England. Look at all the Rutherford/Rutherforths for instance. To correct/add to something which appeared recently, though not, I think, on this thread, the name "Forth" can also mean "a place of recreation", as in The Forth (cf Forth Street, Forth Banks etc etc) in Newcastle. This is obviously a word of many meanings, as we have Ford by itself as a place-name in, at least, Sunderland, Newcastle and N Northumberland, while the Forth is a river in Scotland. The old village and ancient parish of Gainford, however, does look as though it refers to a ford or crossing-place on the Tees. Geoff Nicholson