Local history
New book that aims to show what’s in a name
With a new book detailing the fascinating and unusual place names in Essex, EDMUND TOBIN looked into the origins of some of the towns and
villages on the Guardian's patch.
VISITORS to Essex and its surrounding areas are often amazed by the diversity and strangeness of many of its place names.
Many villages, town and streets display titles that are colourful, peculiar or downright strange.
The origins behind the county's assortment of names are many and diverse, with some dating back well over a thousand years.
A small handful of place names can be found within the priest Bede's Historia Ecclestiastica written in Latin around 731AD.
More names can be found in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle written in Old English during the reign of King Alfred in the late 9th century.
Many place names take their name from an original owner or tenant many of whose identities are now lost although a minority are identifiable members of the church or nobility.
The first thorough collection of place names began with the Domesday Book written under the direction of William the Conqueror in 1086.
The parish titles most recognisable now generally originate in the 11th and 12th centuries. Many of them have now been catalogued in the book Essex Place-Names, by James Kemble, and a selection follows.
Abbess Roding - Named after the Abbess of Barking who owned the monastery there in 1237
Abridge - Named after Aeffa's bridge built in 1203 over the River Roding
Buckhurst Hill - Originally Boc Hyrst (beech-wood) Hill. Named in 1135
Chigwell - Named as Ceacge Wielle or gorse-bush stream, in 1086
Chingford - King Edward is recorded as granting Cingeford, or shingley ford, to St Paul's around 1050AD
Debden - Or its precursor Tippedene was granted to Waltham Holy Cross by King Harold in 1062
Epping - Originally Yppe Ingas, meaning upland or look-out dwellers. Recorded in the Domesday book as being owned by Count Alan
Fyfield - Known as Fifhida in 1086. It's name means five hides, a common form of land tax measurement
Highams Park - Named as Heah Ham (high settlement) in the Domesday Book of 1086
Ilford - Named after the ford through the river Hile, Iledfort was owned in 1086 by Jocelyn Lorimer
Lambourne - Count Eustace is recorded as the owner of Lamburna in 1086. The village's name translates as a stream where lambs are'
Leyton - In 1065 Lygetun (tun' or settlement by the river Lea) was granted to Atsere Swerte by King Edward
Loughton - Lukintone (Luca's settlement) was granted to Waltham Holy Cross in 1062 by Earl Harold
Ongar - Meaning grassland' was willed by Lustwine to his servants in 1045
Redbridge - The original Red Bridge was, literally, a bridge built of red brick for vehicles crossing the River Roding in 1735
Stapleford Tawney - Stapol Ford (ford at the pillar) was granted to Richard de Tany in 1253
Theydon Bois - Originally Teidanam de Bosco, meaning thatched valley'. Was claimed in 1240 by Hugh De Bosco for half a mark of silver
Waltham Abbey - Named after the Abbey established there in 1177 by monks of Waltham Holy Cross
Walthamstow - Countess Judith held Wilcumestou (welcoming place) in 1086
Wanstead - St Paul's was granted Waen Stede (waggon place) in 1066 by King Edward
Woodford - Earl Harlod gave Wudeforde to Waltham Holy Cross in 1062. It's name translates as ford (through the River Roding) by the wood
Essex Place Names, by James Kemble is available now priced £14.50 from Historical Publications Ltd on 020 7607 1628.
1:43pm Thursday 1st May 2008
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