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.

Tatcombe Wd

Early-attested site in the Parish of Cerne Abbas

Historical Forms

  • Tot(e)cumb(e) 1210 P 1211 P 1212 P
  • parcel of land…called Totcomb' 1575 Hutch3
  • 'a narrow declining vale called Totcomb' 1774 Hutch1 1815 Hutch3

Etymology

Tatcombe Wd (SY 675995), Tot (e )cumb (e )1210 P, 1211 P, 1212 P, 'parcel of landcalled Totcomb '1575 Hutch3, 'a narrow declining vale called Totcomb '1774 Hutch1, 1815 Hutch3, 'Tot(t)a's valley', from the OE  pers.n. Tot (t )a (Redin 70) and cumb . It gives name to the hundred of Totcombe supra which had its meeting place here. The small wood lies in the middle of the distinctive valley 1 mile SE of Cerne Abbas village now called Bramble Bottom infra , cf. also comon of pasture upon Totcombe Hill 1617Add .