Blackford is a village in Cumbria, England, close to Gretna, Scotland.

[1][2] Blackford means what it says, a black ford or river-crossing.

However, unlike other places of the name, it is a mix of Old English and Old Norse: the first element is Old English blǣc "black", while the second element is Old Norse vathr / vaőr, ford, river crossing, which usually occurs as -wath in place-names with this element (e.g. Wath upon Dearne).

The name was recorded as Blakiwaith in 1165.

This Cumbria location article is a stub.