Towcester
Major Settlement in the Parish of Towcester
Historical Forms
- Tofeceaster 921 ASC c.925
- Tofcestre 1266 Pat
- Tovecestre 1086 DB
- Touecestr(e) 1157 P 1404 ADiii
- Thouecestr(e) 1234 Cl 1241 P
- Toucestr(e) 12th Survey
- Tuu(e)cestre c.1220 For
- Towecestre t.John,c.1220 For
- Towcestre 1498 ADiii
- Touchestre 1294,1297,1299 Ass
- Touchester 1294 Ass
- Towchester 1577,1596 FF
- Touescestre 1335 Ass
- Taucestre 1387 Pat
- Tawsythur 1523 HMCMiddleton
- Towsetour 1499 ADiii
- Towcetre 1510 LP
- Towcettour 1550 Pat
- Tocester 1511 ADvi
- Tossetour 1541 Statutes
- Toceter 1564 FF
- Tocester 1595 NRSiii
- Tossiter 1657 NRSi
- Towcester vulg. Tosseter, Toster 1675 Ogilby
Etymology
'The Chester or Roman camp on the river Tove' supra 4, v. ceaster . Towcester is on the site of the Romano-British settlement Lactodurum , the second element of which is the same British word for 'fortress' noted under Durobrivae infra 232.The meaning of the first syllable is uncertain. Professor Ekwall suggests that it may be an ablaut form of Welsh llaith , 'damp, moist,' being possibly the earlier Celtic name of the Tove.