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.

The Fitties

Early-attested site in the Parish of Marsh Chapel

Historical Forms

  • The Fitties 1839 TA 1847 Padley
  • Fitties 1567 Anc 1841 MC
  • the fittees 1595 FSurv 1814 Hill
  • ye Fitties 1595 FSurv
  • the Fitties 1613 MinAcct
  • The Salt Marshes called the Fittyes which are at Spring tydes overflowene 1595 FMap

Etymology

THE FITTIES, The Fitties 1839TA , 1847Padley , Fitties 1567Anc , 1841MC , the fittees 1595FSurv , 1814Hill , y e Fitties 1595FSurv , the Fitties 1613MinAcct , The Salt Marshes called the Fittyes which are at Spring tydes overflowene 1595FMap , cf. y e Fettie ground , a peece of Fittie grounde 1595FSurv . This is a common name in north L coastal parishes meaning 'the outer marsh', dial. fitty , fitties 'the outermarsh or land lying between the sea or Humber and the bank, generally intersected by numerous reticulating creeks', v. E. Peacock A glossary of words used in ... Manley and Corringham (EDS) 1899, 206; it is a derivative of ON  fit 'grassland on the bank of a river'.