Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Modiete 1086 DB

• Motesgata Hy1 Ch 1307

• Madesgata Hy2 1307 ib

• Modesgat(e) 1222 Monast 1307 Ch 1535 VE 1830 M

• Madget 1830 M

Etymology

Madgett, Modesgate, Modiete 1086 DB, Motesgata Hy 1 (1307) Ch, Madesgata Hy 2 (1307) ib, Modesgat (e )1222 Monast, 1307 Ch, 1535 VE, 1830 M, Madget 1830 M. Madgett is a farmstead ¼ mile from Modesgate (the latter is possibly an antiquarian revival of the old name); Modesgate describes the remains of an encampment forming part of Offa's Dyke. The second el. is OE  geat 'gap, gate' which is sometimes used to denote 'a gap in a defensive ditch' (cf. EPN i, 198). The first el. may be an OE  pers.n. Mōd , a hypocoristic form of pers.ns. like Mōdwulf , of which OE  Modinc is a derivative (Redin 172).