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.

Old Warden

Major Settlement in the Parish of Old Warden

Historical Forms

  • Wardone 1086 DB
  • Wardone juxta Bedeford c.1350 Linc
  • Wardun 1158 P c.1170 Warden c.1230 BM 1215 Orig 1239 Ch 1244 Orig 1444
  • Waredon 1227 Ass 1229 Cl 1262 FF
  • Warden 1359 Ipm
  • Wardoun 1383,1388,1393 Cl
  • Old Wardon 1495 Ipm
  • Worden 1785,1798 Jury

Etymology

Skeat must be right in his suggestion that this is for OE  weard-dun, 'watch-hill.' Cf. Warden (Nb) for a similar name.