Holy Trinity church is thought to incorporate the foundations of a Saxon lookout tower and the Saxon Manor of Ilfracombe was probably near by. It was called Alfreincoma in the Doomsday survey, which is Old English for 'Alfred's valley', although the exact form of the personal name is unclear. Local tradition links the name to Alfred the Great, but it was probably the name of a local lord.  Many other local place names are from Old English, often with a Saxon personal name as their first element, for example Berrynarbor (originally Hurtesburie), Haggington, Campscott, Mullacot, Winsham and Warmscombe.

Ilfarcomb is so-called on Saxton's map of 1575. Ilfracombe is so-called on Dunn's map of 1765 and on the first OS map of 1809.

"It is conceivable that the name was derived from the Norse illr, bad; Anglo-Saxon yfel, evil and ford; Anglo-Saxon ford-faran, a place where water must be crossed on foot; and combe, Anglo-Saxon cumb, a valley or bottom  The valley with the bad ford." (Bowring 1931 p 16)

"Alfreincoma 1086 DB, Alferdingcoma 1167 P, Aufredyncomb 1208 PatR, Alfrede(s)cumbe 1234 C1, 1249 FF, Alfrithecumb 1219 Ass, Aufrithcumbe 1244 Ass, Aufridecumbe 1233 Ch, 1261 Exon (p), 1269 Exon, Alf- 1249 Ass, Aufricum(be) 1244 Ass, 1262-76 Exon, Aufridycombe 1291 Tax, Alfrincumbe 1242 Fees 784, Hilfardescumbe 1244 Ass, Ilfredecumb(e) 1262-76 Exon, 1274 Ipm, 1294 Ass, 1309 Ipm, Ilfridec(o)umbe 1279 Ch,1305 Ipm, Ildefrithecumbe 1290 Ch, Ilfradiscombe 1328 FF, Hilfrincombe 1262-76 Exon, Ilvercombe 1302 C1, Ilfercomb 1480 IpmR, Ylfrycomb 1346 FA, Elvertecombe 1322 C1, Ilfordcomb 1667 Cai, Ilfarcomb vulg. Ilfracomb 1675 Ogilby Probably Alfred’s combe....The exact form of the personal name involved is not certain" (Gover et al 1932 p 46)

"Is it possible that the name Ilfracombe was derived from Norse ILLF (bad), Anglo-Saxon YFEL (evil, ford), Anglo-Saxon FORD=FARAN (a place where water must be crossed on foot) and Anglo-Saxon CUMB (valley or bottom)? In 1724 Daniel Defoe called the Town ILFARCOMB, following the spelling by Speede 1620 map and Ogilby 1675 map" (Longhurst 1978)

"The history of Ilfracombe can be traced back to Anglo-Saxon times. Tradition ascribes the origin of the name to King Alfred the Great. On the authority of Risdon, about a thousand years ago Ilfracombe was known as Alfrincombe or Ilfridscombe" (from Ilfracombe Official guide c 1935 IMN 2000 p 1)