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.

Tatten

Early-attested site in the Parish of Pamphill

Historical Forms

  • Tadden, Tadden Fd & Tadden Moor 1847 TA
  • Tadhavene 1327 SR
  • Taddehauene 1332 SR

Etymology

Tatten (ST 987014), Tadden , Tadden Fd & Tadden Moor 1847TA , probably to be identified with Tadhavene 1327SR , Taddehauene 1332 SR both (p), which is apparently from tadde , tāde 'toad' and hæfen 1 'haven, harbour', the name perhaps meaning 'haven for toads' with haven in the figurative sense 'place of shelter or retreat' (from a 1225 NED) rather than in the sense 'harbour' (from 1031 ib). There is a stream nearby and the ground is marshy; for a similar contemptuous or jocular name, cf. Taddiport D 111.