Leofgifu is an Old English feminine name comprising the elements lēof ‘dear’ and gifu ‘gift’.
There are five entries in the PASE corpus, of whom of whom Leofgifu 1-3 occur in pre-Domesday contexts (cf. seven such occurrences in Searle 1897: 327-8); Leofgifu 4 is a catch-all for occurrences in DB; and Leofgifu 5 is the TRE abbess of Shaftesbury, profiled below. Despite this apparently low frequency, however, women are generally under-reported in pre-Conquest sources and the elements lēof and gifu are common in the formation of other OE personal names. The PASE corpus and the distribution of estates recorded or inferred as held TRE by women called Leofgifu in DB suggest that this name was fairly common but was used mainly in the southern and eastern counties.
Searle 1897: W. G. Searle, Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum: A List of Anglo-Saxon Proper Names from the Time of Beda to that of King John (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1897)
von Feilitzen 1937: Olof von Feilitzen, The Pre-Conquest Personal Names of Domesday Book, Nomina Germanica 3 (Uppsala: Almqvist and Wiksells, 1937)
Spellings in Domesday Book: Leuefa, Leueua, Leueue
Forms in modern scholarship:
von Feilitzen head forms: Leofgifu
Phillimore edition: Leofeva
Alecto edition: Leofgifu
Shire | Phil. ref. | Vill | Holder 1066 DB Spelling | Holder 1066 | Lord 1066 | Tenant-in-Chief 1086 | 1086 subtenant | Fiscal value | 1066 value | 1086 value | Holder 1066 ID conf. | Show on map |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wiltshire | 12,2 | Tisbury | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | Edward of Salisbury | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | A | Map | |
Huntingdonshire | D2 | Huntingdon | Leueue | Leofgifu, wife of Ælfric the sheriff | - | - | - | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | D | Map |
Dorset | B4 | Shaftesbury | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | William, king | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | 0.00 | 3.25 | 3.25 | A | Map | |
Suffolk | 16,20 | Coddenham | Leueua | Leofgifu 'of Finesford' | Wulfric, abbot of Ely | Odo, bishop of Bayeux | - | 0.08 | 0.20 | 0.20 | E | Map |
Suffolk | 16,48 | Aspall | Leueua | Leofgifu 'of Finesford' | Wulfric, abbot of Ely | Odo, bishop of Bayeux | Roger Bigod | 0.17 | 0.20 | 0.20 | E | Map |
Dorset | 19,10 | Kingston | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | William de Briouze | 0.25 | 0.00 | 0.00 | A | Map | |
Cambridgeshire | 14,25 | Croydon | Leueue | Leofgifu 'of Arrington' | Eadgifu the fair | Alan, count | Fulcwig 'of Arrington' | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.25 | A | Map |
Suffolk | 32,9 | Charsfield | Leueua | Leofgifu 'of Charsfield' | Healfdene 'of Thorington' | Geoffrey de Mandeville | - | 0.25 | 0.50 | 0.50 | E | Map |
Essex | 23,29 | Bures | Leueua | Leofgifu 'of Bures' | - | Richard fitzGilbert | - | 0.33 | 1.50 | 1.50 | E | Map |
Suffolk | 21,70 | Finesford | Leueua | Leofgifu 'of Finesford' | Wulfric, abbot of Ely | Simeon, abbot of Ely | - | 0.33 | 0.30 | 0.30 | E | Map |
Sussex | 9,84 | Henhurst | Leueua | Leofgifu 'of Henhurst' | - | Robert, count of Eu | William 'the man of Robert, count of Eu' | 0.50 | 1.00 | 1.00 | C | Map |
Dorset | 19,11 | Farnham | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | Aiulf | 0.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | A | Map | |
Dorset | 19,11 | Farnham | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | unnamed wife of Hugh fitzGrip | 0.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | A | Map | |
Cambridgeshire | 14,45 | Arrington | Leueue | Leofgifu 'of Arrington' | Eadgifu the fair | Alan, count | Fulcwig 'of Arrington' | 0.50 | 1.00 | 0.50 | A | Map |
Lincolnshire | 68,48 | Nettleton | Leueua | Leofgifu 'of Nettleton' | - | Leofgifu 'of Nettleton' | - | 0.63 | 1.00 | 0.25 | A | Map |
Essex | 18,24 | Aldham | Leueua | Leofgifu 'of Aldham' | - | Odo, bishop of Bayeux | unnamed wife of Aubrey de Vere | 0.96 | 1.50 | 3.00 | E | Map |
Dorset | 19,10 | Wareham | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | William, king | - | 1.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | A | Map | |
Hertfordshire | 1,6 | Kings Waldon | Leueua | Leofgifu 'of Lilley' | Harold, earl | William, king | - | 1.00 | 10.00 | 8.00 | B | Map |
Hertfordshire | 1,12 | Wellbury | Leueua | Leofgifu 'of Lilley' | Harold, earl | William, king | 1 sokeman | 1.00 | 3.00 | 1.33 | B | Map |
Essex | 28,15 | Kelvedon Hatch | Leueua | Leofgifu 'of Kelvedon' | - | Hamon the steward | Ralph de Marcy | 1.38 | 1.50 | 1.75 | E | Map |
Dorset | 49,1 | Blandford St Mary | Leueua | Leofgifu 'of Blandford' | - | Aiulf the sheriff | - | 1.50 | 1.00 | 1.50 | E | Map |
Wiltshire | 12,2 | Tisbury | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | Aubrey 'of Tisbury' | 2.00 | 3.25 | 3.25 | A | Map | |
Hertfordshire | 37,21 | Little Berkhamsted | Leuefa | Leofgifu, widow, 'of Little Berkhamsted' | - | Hardwin de Scales | - | 2.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 | C | Map |
Suffolk | 15,3 | Toppesfield | Leueua | Leofgifu 'of Toppesfield' | Stigand, archbishop of Canterbury | Lanfranc, archbishop of Canterbury | unnamed monks of Christ Church, Canterbury, in 1086 | 2.00 | 2.00 | 3.00 | E | Map |
Bedfordshire | 53,8 | Bletsoe | Leueua | Leofgifu 'of Aspley' | Edward, king | Judith, countess | Osbern de Breuil | 2.50 | 3.00 | 3.00 | D | Map |
Wiltshire | 12,2 | Tisbury | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | Thurstan the chamberlain | 3.00 | 4.88 | 4.88 | A | Map | |
Wiltshire | 12,2 | Tisbury | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | Gunfrid Mauduit | 3.00 | 4.88 | 4.88 | A | Map | |
Kent | 5,97 | Wateringbury | Leueua | Leofgifu 'of Wateringbury' | Edward, king | Odo, bishop of Bayeux | Ralph fitzTurold | 4.00 | 2.00 | 6.00 | D | Map |
Dorset | 19,1 | Sixpenny Handley | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | 2 free Englishmen | 4.00 | 2.40 | 2.40 | A | Map | |
Hertfordshire | 34,12 | Lilley | Leueua | Leofgifu 'of Lilley' | Harold, earl | Geoffrey de Bec | - | 4.13 | 5.78 | 4.13 | B | Map |
Dorset | 19,9 | Fifehead St Quintin | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | Ketil 'of Kington' | 5.00 | 3.00 | 3.00 | A | Map | |
Dorset | 19,12 | Stoke Wake | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | 5.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | A | Map | |
Somerset | 14,1 | Abbas Combe | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | 5.00 | 6.00 | 6.00 | A | Map | |
Berkshire | 42,1 | South Denchworth | Leueua | Leofgifu 'of Denchworth' | - | Robert of Stafford | Laurence 'of Denchworth' | 6.00 | 3.00 | 3.00 | D | Map |
Wiltshire | 12,4 | Alvestone | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | 7.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | A | Map | |
Essex | 33,4 | Woodham Walter | Leueua | Leofgifu 'of Woodham' | - | Ralph Baynard | Theodric Pointel | 7.00 | 8.00 | 7.00 | D | Map |
Berkshire | 15,2 | Reading | Leueua | Leofgifu, abbess of Reading | Edward, king | Gausbert, abbot of Battle | - | 8.00 | 9.00 | 11.00 | C | Map |
Dorset | 19,2 | Hinton St Mary | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | 8.00 | 8.00 | 10.00 | A | Map | |
Dorset | 19,5 | Compton Abbas | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | 10.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | A | Map | |
Dorset | 19,6 | Melbury Abbas | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | 10.00 | 9.00 | 13.00 | A | Map | |
Dorset | 19,8 | Tarrant Hinton | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | 10.00 | 6.00 | 10.00 | A | Map | |
Bedfordshire | 23,17 | Aspley Guise | Leueua | Leofgifu 'of Aspley' | Waltheof, earl | Hugh de Beauchamp | Acard d'Ivry | 10.00 | 10.00 | 8.00 | D | Map |
Dorset | 19,13 | Mapperton | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | 11.00 | 1.50 | 5.00 | A | Map | |
Dorset | 19,10 | Kingston | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | 14.75 | 16.00 | 23.00 | A | Map | |
Dorset | 19,4 | Fontmell Magna | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | 15.00 | 10.00 | 15.00 | A | Map | |
Wiltshire | 12,2 | Tisbury | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | 16.00 | 30.00 | 30.00 | A | Map | |
Dorset | 19,1 | Sixpenny Handley | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | 16.00 | 9.60 | 9.60 | A | Map | |
Wiltshire | 12,6 | Dinton | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | 18.00 | 18.00 | 18.00 | - | Map | |
Dorset | 19,7 | Iwerne Minster | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | 18.00 | 10.00 | 14.00 | A | Map | |
Sussex | 8a,1 | Felpham | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | 21.00 | 10.00 | 20.00 | A | Map | |
Wiltshire | 12,3 | Donhead | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | 33.00 | 22.00 | 22.00 | A | Map | |
Wiltshire | 12,5 | Liddington | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | 38.00 | 18.00 | 22.00 | A | Map | |
Wiltshire | 12,4 | Bradford on Avon | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | - | 42.00 | 60.00 | 60.00 | A | Map | |
Total | 371.51 | 337.49 | 380.67 |
Shire | Phil. ref. | Vill | Lord 1066 DB Spelling | Holder 1066 | Lord 1066 | Tenant-in-Chief 1086 | 1086 subtenant | Fiscal value | 1066 value | 1086 value | Lord 1066 ID conf. | Show on map |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dorset | 55,21 | Farnham | Alwine 'of Farnham' | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | unnamed wife of Hugh fitzGrip | Ilbert 'of Farnham' | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.50 | B | Map | |
Wiltshire | 12,3 | Donhead | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | 1 thegn | 1.00 | 1.43 | 1.43 | B | Map | ||
Wiltshire | 12,6 | Dinton | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | Gunfrid Mauduit | 2.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 | B | Map | ||
Wiltshire | 12,1 | Beechingstoke | Hearding son of Eadnoth | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | Thurstan the chamberlain | 5.00 | 3.00 | 5.00 | B | Map | |
Wiltshire | 12,3 | Donhead | Leofgifu, abbess of Shaftesbury | Eulalia, abbess of Shaftesbury | Thurstan the chamberlain | 6.00 | 8.57 | 8.57 | B | Map | ||
Total | 14.50 | 15.50 | 17.50 |
Shire | Phil. ref. | Vill | TIC DB Spelling | Holder 1066 | Lord 1066 | Tenant-in-Chief 1086 | 1086 subtenant | Fiscal value | 1066 value | 1086 value | TIC ID conf. | Show on map |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Suffolk | 74,13 | Claydon | Leueua | - | - | Leofgifu 'of Claydon' | - | 0.04 | 0.00 | 0.07 | D | Map |
Lincolnshire | 68,48 | Nettleton | Leueua | Leofgifu 'of Nettleton' | - | Leofgifu 'of Nettleton' | - | 0.63 | 1.00 | 0.25 | - | Map |
Warwickshire | 43,1 | Salford Priors | Leveve | Godgifu, wife of Earl Leofric | - | Leofgifu the nun | - | 3.00 | 2.00 | 6.00 | - | Map |
Total | 3.67 | 3.00 | 6.32 |
Shire | Phil. ref. | Vill | Subtenant DB Spelling | Holder 1066 | Lord 1066 | Tenant-in-Chief 1086 | 1086 subtenant | Fiscal value | 1066 value | 1086 value | Subtenant ID conf. | Show on map |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Berkshire | B6 | Wallingford | Leueua | - | - | William, king | Leofgifu 'of Wallingford' | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.01 | - | Map |
Oxfordshire | B10 | Oxford | Leueua | - | - | William, king | Leofgifu 'of Oxford' | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.30 | - | Map |
Oxfordshire | B10 | Oxford | Leueua | - | - | William, king | Leofgifu 'of Oxford' | 0.00 | 0.04 | 0.00 | - | Map |
Essex | B3a | Colchester | Leueua | - | - | William, king | Leofgifu, burgess 'of Colchester' | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | - | Map |
Essex | B3a | Colchester | Leueua | - | - | William, king | Leofgifu, burgess 'of Colchester' | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | - | Map |
Essex | B3a | Colchester | Leueua | - | - | William, king | Leofgifu, burgess 'of Colchester' | 0.03 | 0.00 | 0.00 | - | Map |
Essex | B3a | Colchester | Leueua | - | - | William, king | Leofgifu, burgess 'of Colchester' | 0.04 | 0.00 | 0.00 | - | Map |
Essex | B3a | Colchester | Leffiuf | - | - | William, king | Leofgifu, burgess 'of Colchester' | 0.07 | 0.00 | 0.00 | - | Map |
Somerset | 2,7 | Taunton | Leueua | Stigand, archbishop of Canterbury | Walkelin, bishop of Winchester | Leofgifu 'of Taunton' | 2.00 | 1.00 | 2.00 | - | Map | |
Warwickshire | 17,47 | Little Lawford | Leueua | Alwine the sheriff | - | Thorkil of Warwick | Leofgifu 'of Little Lawford' | 2.00 | 1.00 | 0.53 | - | Map |
Total | 4.14 | 2.04 | 2.84 |
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