Totternhoe
Major Settlement in the Parish of Totternhoe
Historical Forms
- Totenehou 1086 DB
- Toternho(u) 1160–7 Dunst 13th Ass 1202 Dunst 1220 Ass 13th FF 1227 Ass 1234 FA 1247 Dunst 1284 Ipm 1286 FA 1304 Ch 1316 Ipm 1323 ADvi 1333 1350
- Toterho(u) 1176 P 1202 Ass 1242 Fees891 1247 Cl 1257 Ch 1262 FF 1302 FA
- Thotherno, Tothirno 13th Dunst
- Totenho 1227,1240 Ass 1247 Ass
- Thoterho 1241 FF 1286 Dunst
- Toterno 1247 Ass 1286 Dunst 1287 Ass 1299 Ipm
- Toterno by Dunstaple 1327 Ipm 1489,1497 Ipm
- Thoturno Hy3 BM
- Totorno 1332 ADi 1352 BM
- Toturnowe 1338 ADiii 1347 Cl
- Totourno 1393 BM
- Toturnho 1412 ADvi 1461 IpmR 1463 ADi
- Toturhoo 1428 FA
- Totern(h)oo 1503 Ipm 1526 LS
- Tatternall 1576 Saxton
- Totternhoe 1657 BM
- Tatternhoe 1780,1785,1791,1810,1820 Jury
Etymology
The name Totternhoe has long been considered a crux, at least so far as the first element is concerned. Consideration of the topography and archaeology of the site however provides the solution. The hoh is a promontory of the chalk downs, with very steep sides on the west and south but with a more gradual slope to the east. It is crowned by an ancient camp, commonly known as Totternhoe Castle and commands a view of Watling Street, which runs past it from south-east to north-west, just two miles away. All this suggests that the first element is OE tot -ærn , 'look-out house' (v. ærn ). This compound is not on record in OE , but has its parallel in the familiar Toot Hill , Tuthill , so commonly used of a look-out hill. The castle was clearly used as a 'look-out house.' This interpretation is interestingly confirmed by Mr Goddard, writing in the VCH (i. 294) with no suspicion of the actual meaning of the place- name. He says 'the position is a majestic one, and to those moving on the lower plains for miles round, the Totternhoe mound seems to keep watch on its height like some great conning-tower.'