An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Furt
Furt, f. (UpG. masc. also), ‘ford,’ from the equiv. MidHG. and OHG. vurt, m.; comp. OSax. *ford in Heriford (lit. ‘lord's ford’), Hereford; MidDu. vord, AS. ford, m., E. ford; comp. AS. Oxenaford (lit. ‘oxen's ford’), ‘Oxford’ (also Schweinfurt, Erfurt). Goth. *faúrdus, ‘ford,’ is wanting. It belongs to the Teut. root far, ‘to go, march,’ and hence signifies lit. ‘a frequented, passable spot’; comp. Gr. πόρος, ‘ford,’ which has a cognate root, and βόσπορος with Oxford; also Zend peretu, ‘bridge’ (Euphrates, lit. ‘having many bridges’?); so too Lat. portus, ‘port’; OIc. fjǫrðr, m, ‘bay.’ Lat. -ritum (for *pritum) in Augustoritum, from Kelt., is also allied to this word.