Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Eateleia 1086 ICC 1176 BM

• Hatelai 1086 DB

• Hung'hatele 1218 SR

• Esthatele 1302 FA

• Atelai 1086 DB

• Attelee 1198 Cur

• Atteleye 1250 Fees

• Hungryattele 1316 BM

• Etelaie 1086 InqEl

• Hatteleia 1164–95 BM

• Esthatteleia 1199 P

• Esthattele 1218 SR

• Hattel(e) 1242 Fees 1405 Pat

• Hattel(e) de S'c'o Georgio 1279 RH

• Hongry Hattel(e) 1375 Ely

• Hunger Hattel(e) 1429 Cl

• Underhatteley al. Hungrihatteley 1456 Pat

• Hatle(e) 1272 Ass 1346,1428 FA

• Hangryhatle 1426 Cl

• Undirhatley 1460 Elien

• Esthatley 1552 Pat

• St George Hatley al. Ungrye Hatley 1614 PCC

• Hungry Hatley al. St George Hatley 1653 Moulton

• Hungerhatton (sic) 1285 Ass

• Hattelawa (1235 StNeot)

• Brerehat c. 1185 StNeot

• Sancto Georgio (1236 Barnwell)

Etymology

These two Cambridgeshire parishes must once have formed, with Cockayne Hatley in Bedfordshire, a single area. Earlier and better forms for the Bedfordshire name (PN BedsHu 105) suggest that the first element may have been 'a personal name *Hætta , otherwise unknown, perhaps a pet-form of compound names in Hǣð - or a derivative of OE  hætt , 'hat.' It is just possible that the strong form *Hætt is found in Hassall (Ch), Eteshale 1086 DB, Hattesale 13th BM, but this cannot be regarded as certain. The three Hatleys are close together on a piece of elevated ground which Ekwall (DEPN s. nn. Hatley and Hattingley) suggests may have been called *hæte , from OE  hætt , 'hat,' and compares Hatt (Ha), Hatte 1206 Cur, situated on Hatt Hill, and possibly Hattingley (Ha), Hattingele 1204 Cur. In a document relating to Gamlingay, which borders on Cockayne Hatley and Hatley St George, we have reference to Hattelawa (1235StNeot ), which might well be the actual hill from which the Hatleys took name.This element was certainly in use in Huntingdonshire, cf. to þam hætte (956Thorney ) in Farcet (Hu). In Little Gransden, too, we have Brerehat c. 1185StNeot , whilst in 1302 (Pat) there lived in Shepreth or Foxton a certain Robert de Hat . These may be relevant, but cannot be regarded as certain examples, for -hat is a form sometimes found for -hath , 'heath,' cf. Caldemowehat and Kaldemowehath (1251 Rams) in Warboys (Hu) and Heath Plantation infra 191. Cf. also Monekyspat 13thStJohn 's (Babraham), Fredunepat 13thCaiCh (Duxford), Mydylpat 14thWymond (Litlington) and Alfowespat 14thQueens ' (Haslingfeld), where -pat is for -path . Complete certainty is impossible. We may have here 'the hill and wood of *Hætta ' or 'the hill called *Hætte ' and 'the wood by *Hætte ,' v. hlāw , lēah . East , the most easterly of the three parishes, was also called Castell -Hatley from the Castell family (t. Hy 7 L 209). Hungry Hatley, probably so called because of its poor soil, owes its present attribute to the family of William de Sancto Georgio (1236 Barnwell). Cf. Hungry Bentley (Db) and Hungry Hatton (Sa). Under -, because Hatley St George is the lowest of the three Hatleys.