Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Tacatone 1086 DB

• Tacatona Exon

• Tachetona 1109 Dugd

• Tacetona 1283 FF

• Taketon 1305 Cl

• Takton 1423 Midd

• Acton 1550 Midd c.1586 Tres 1811 OS

• Acton or Acwell 1774 Hutch1

Etymology

Probably 'farm where young sheep are reared', v. tacca , tacce , tūn , as suggested by Ekwall in Studies2 74 and DEPN; an OE  pers.n. Tæcca or Tacca is less likely for the first el. (cf. Fägersten 123 who also cites the 13th cent. Do surname Robert Tac ). In either case the later loss of initial T - is due to the wrong analysis of phrases like 'at Tacton' (cf. æt , atten in EPN and v. Phonol.) and to confusion with the common p.n. Acton 'oak farm' from āc and tūn . The late alternative form Acwell (v. wella ; a spring is marked 6″ near Acton Fd infra ), and also the lost Bitakewathe infra , probably have the same first el. There was a mill here in 1086 DB (VCHDo 3108).