Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Mereuuent, Merwen 1086 DB

• Mar(e)went 12 Glouc 1221 Ass 1234 Glouc 1260 GlR 1280 FF 1289 GlR

• Morwent 1304 FF

• Morrewent 15 Glouc

• Morewent-end 1779 Rudder

• Morwents Place 1784 GR123

Etymology

Taylor, DB, equates this place with the manor of Hartpury, which is not mentioned in DB. Several of the spellings refer to a family of Marwent , one of whom, Henry de Marewent , is particularly associated with Hartpury (1280FF ); some member of this family doubtless gave his name to Morwents Place in this parish and to Morwent's Fm in Westbury on Severn (206infra ). The interpretation of the name is difficult. The oldest form would appear to be Merwent , Marwent , but these may be WMidl  variants of Morwent (cf. Phonol. § 25). It cannot be decided whether this is an English or a Celtic name; it might be an English mōr -wente 'moorland path', but wente is usually of much later occurrence than DB and very rare in the WMidl. A Celtic origin is therefore preferable, but its etymology is obscure; it could be a compound of some theme like PrWelsh  *mǭr (Brit. *māro -) 'great' with the Romano-British venta found in Caerwent (Mon), Winchester (Ha) and Gwenta , a district in Wales (Holder s.n.), the meaning of which is not known; the name could therefore be from Brit  *Māroventa 'great Venta '.