Prittlewell
Major Settlement in the Parish of Prittlewell
Historical Forms
- Pritteuuellā 1086 DB
- Prit(t)ewell(e) 1191–5 P
- Prit(t)ewellis 1224 Pap
- Prit(t)ewall 1345 Pat
- Prytewelle 1290,1305 Pat
- Pritwell 1294–7 Pat 1307 Cl 1428 FA
- Prytiwell 1500 Ipm
- Prittiwell 1535 VE
- Prittowell ib.
- Prituwella 12th France 1135–54 Cluny
- princiduelam 1121 AC
- Prit(e)l(e)well(e) 1165–95 P 1227–57 Ch
- Pritilwell 1294 Ipm 1343 Pat
- Prytelwelle 1309 Pat
- Pratelewelle t.Hy3 RBE
- Priteswell 1194 Abbr
- Prytleswelle 1286 FF
- Pret(t)ewell 1218 FF 1310–51 Cl
- Predewelle 1329 Pap
- Britewella 1240 Bracton
- Britelwell alias Pritelwell 1281 Pat
- Bretilwell 1494 EAS(NS)iii
- Britlewell 1665 EssPRii
- Priterwell(e), Pryterwell(e), Prytrewell(e) 1240 Cl 1342 Fine
- Preterwell 1241,1242 Cl t.Ed3 FA
- Pretirwell 1291 FF
- Pritenewell 1254 Pat
- Putenewell 1267 Ch
- Pritelewell, Priterwell(e), Pritewell 1303 FA
- Portelewell 1309 Extent
- Pretelwell 1345 Pat 1346 FA
- Pretilwe (sic) 1350 Cl
- Pretilwell 1374 Ct
- Preaux 1371 Pat
- Pirt(e)well(e) 1436 Pat 1515 BM
- Pyrtwell 1471 ADii
- Pyttewell 1553 Pat
- Prikkellwell 1554 Egerton
- Priklewell alias Pritwell 1555 FF
- Pryklewell 1561 BM
Etymology
Professor Ekwall and Dr Ritter agree in suggesting that the first element is an adjective pritol , 'babbling,' related to OE pritigian , 'to chirp.' The name is synonymous with Writtle infra 277–8, denoting a babbling stream or spring. We have perhaps another trace of this adjective in Gilbert Pritel (1317 Cass), who gave his name to Pricklers Hill in High Barnet (Herts).Such an explanation would suit the site. According to Benton (Rochford ii, 446) there was “a celebrated spring at the Priory, the strongest in the hundred.”