Datchworth
Major Settlement in the Parish of Datchworth
Historical Forms
- Decewrthe 969 Crawfordvi c.1100
- (in) Deccewyrðe 1066 KCD824 14th
- (æt) Tæccingawyrðe 11th KCD1354 12th
- Dæccewrðe c.1060 WDB
- Dæcceuuyrthe 1065 CottChvi,2
- Daceuuorde 1086 DB
- Dacewrth 1193 FF 1275 RH 1428 FA
- Daceworth(e) 1198 FF 1307 Ipm
- Dacewurthe 1228 FF
- Daccheworthe 1286 FF 1303 FA
- Dachesworth 1302 Ch
- Dacheworthstrete 1451 Ct
- Decceswurth 12th StAlbansN
- Tachchewrth (sic) 1220 Fees
- Tachewrthe 1240 FF
- Thacheworth(e) 1248 Ipm 1248,1287 Ass 1376 Cl 1477 Pat 1531 CtRequests
- Thachewurthe 1255 ADi
- Thacchynworth 1532 ECP
- Thecheworth 1545 SR
- Thatchworth al. Datchworth t.Eliz ChancP
- Datchworth al. Thatcher al. Thatchworth 1803 Recov
Etymology
There can be little doubt that the initial consonant here is d rather than t . The forms in KCD 1354 are excellent but it is impossible to accept the one form with initial t as against uniform d throughout the 11th and 12th centuries, and it is to be noted that the form Tæccingawyrðe is preceded by the preposition æt .It is clear that the scribe got confused between final t and initial d . For the name Dæcca , cf. the history of Dagenham (PN Ess 91). There may perhaps have been alternative forms of the name, Dæccanwyrð and Dæccingawyrð . Without such it is a little difficult to explain the early and complete disappearance of inga . Hence 'Dæcca 's enclosure' or 'enclosure of Dæcca and his people.'
At a later stage in the history of the name there was clearly some confusion with the common word thatch .