Daventry
Major Settlement in the Parish of Daventry
Historical Forms
- Daventrei 1086 DB
- Dauentre 1199 FF 12th Survey 1200,1206 Cur c.1220 WellsR 1262,1264 Ipm 1537 StFrides
- Dauintre c.1150 BM
- Davintreia 1155 Ch 1329
- Daivintr' 1216 ClR
- Dauntre 1205 Cur 1227 Ass
- Daventre al. Dauntrye 1572 FF
- Daventry 1320 ADi 1328 Ipm 1346 FA
- Davyntree 1388 Cl
- Daventre al. Deyntre 1564 Recov
- Dantrey 1610 Camden
- Daintree 1620 Recov
- Daintry 1623 Shakespeare(Hyvi)
- Dauntrye 1639 FF
- Dawntrie al. Dayntrye 1640 Recov
- Daintrey, Dayntry, Daintree 1657 NRSi
- Deventrye 1620 FF
- Danetre 1791 Bridges
Etymology
The old pronunciation is preserved in Daintry Wood and Daintree Fm (PN BedsHu 135, 214) which probably take their names from men coming originally from Daventry.
The etymology of the name is difficult, but Professor Ekwall and Dr Ritter agree in suggesting that the second element is treo, 'tree,' and the first an unrecorded pers. name *Dafa , the cognate of OGer Dabo , Tabo , Tabicho (Förstemann PN 386), connected with the stem of OE dafan , 'to suit.' Hence 'Dafa 's tree.'
It is worth noticing with regard to this name, that its forms show remarkable resemblance to those of Deventer in Holland, 10th cent. Davantria , Dauentri , Taventeri (Förstemann ON i, 692), but the etymology of that name also is obscure.