English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Chettle

Major Settlement in the Parish of Chettle

Historical Forms

  • Ceotel 1086 DB 1107 Ch 1300
  • Cheotel 1369 ChrP 1372
  • Chetel 1100–35 Pat 1496 1154–89 Cecil 1496 c.1183 14
  • bosco de Chetel 1234 Cl
  • foresta regis de Chetel 1237 1280,1288 Ass 1291 Tax 1294 Pat 1320 Pat 1428 FA
  • Chettel 1233 Lib
  • Chettell(') 1235 Cl 1547 Ct 1553 Cecil
  • Chetell(e) 1388 Fine 1390 Cl
  • Chettle 1575 Saxton
  • Chetil 1288 Ass
  • Chettille 1390 Cl
  • Chetyll 1530 Cecil
  • Chetul 1327 SR 1332 SR
  • Chettul' 1372 ChrP
  • Chittel 1372 ChrP

Etymology

Probably, as suggested by Tengstrand MN 97, from an OE  ceotol, a variant of cetel, cytel 'a kettle', here in the topographical sense of 'a deep valley surrounded by hills', with reference to the situation of the village, cf. Chettle Head Copse in Pentridge par. supra .