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.

Toller Fratrum

Major Settlement in the Parish of Toller Fratrum

Historical Forms

  • Tolre Hosp(it)' 1268,1288 Ass
  • Tolrehospital 1348 Pat
  • Tolre Lib' Prioris Sancti Johannis Jer'l'm in Angl' 1280 Ass
  • 'prior and brethren of Hospital of St John of Jerusalem' 1346 Pat
  • Tolre Fratrum 1340 NI 1344 Cerne 14
  • Toller Fratrum 1428 FA
  • Toller-Fratrum 1774 Hutch1
  • Toller Fratrum (Little) 1795 Boswell
  • Little Toller 1664 HTax 1762 Hutch3

Etymology

Named from R. Toller (the old name for R. Hooke) like the adjacent par. of Toller Porcorum and Toller Whelme in Corscombe par. both infra , v. RNs.infra . The DB form Tolre cited under Toller Porcorum infra probably represents both pars. The distinguishing affix Fratrum 'of the brothers' (gen.pl. of Lat  frater 'brother, member of a religious order') refers to the early possession of this estate by the order of Knights Hospitallers, thus also the affix Hosp (ital ), v. Hutch3 2696, VCHDo 292. The later alternative affixes Little , Parva and Lower are also in relation to Toller Porcorum par. infra .