Childerditch
Major Settlement in the Parish of Childerditch
Historical Forms
- Ciltendis 1086 DB
- Ciltendich 1218 FF 1428 FA
- Ciltendig' 1236 Fees
- Ciltendic 1249 Ch
- Ciltendik 1274 RH
- Ciltedic 1086 DB
- Ciltedich 1212 RBE
- Chiltediht t.Hy3 WalthamA
- Chiltindich 1223–56 FF 1254 Ass
- Chiltindith 1247 FF
- Chiltendith 1248 Ass
- Chiltyndith 1291 For
- Chiltyndych 1334 Londin
- Chyltendych 1269 FF
- Chyltendich' 1291 For
- Chiltenedich 14th Stoke
- Chiltingdich 1346 Cl
- Childendic 1235 1250 FF 1257 Ch
- Chyldendic 1250 FF
- Childyngdich 1285 QW
- Childewyk 1254 EASxviii
- Cheldwyke 1540 Ct
- Chundeldiche 1272 Ass
- Chedelingdich 1285 Ass
- Childiht t.Hy3 WalthamA
- Childik 1285 FF
- Chilterdik 1275 Ipm
- Chilterdich(e) 1323 For 1346 FA
- Chylterdyche 1315 Ipm
- Chiltredic 14th Stoke
- Childerdich 1309 FF
- Childredich 14th Stoke
- Childirdyche 1428 FA
- Chilter(i)ndych 1327 SR
- Chilter(i)ndiche 1428 FA
- Cheldriche 1485 Ct
Etymology
The ditch or dyke is probably the stream that flows through the centre of the northern part of the parish, and after passing through Little Warley becomes the boundary between the two parishes, finally flowing into the Mar Dyke.
The history of the first part of the name is obscure. It is worth noting that in the grants made by St Erkenwald to Barking, among the lands which he had received from Oethelred of Essex Celta follows on the list which includes Barking and Dagenham (BCS 87). We are not so very far from Childerditch and it may be that Celta was the old name for the 'ditch.' We have some other evidence for such a river-name.Chelt has been presumed to be a back-formation from Cheltenham, Celtanhom , Ciltan ham (BCS 309), but the occurrence of a place-name Cheltheved in a personal name in a Gloucestershire Assize Roll of 1248 suggests that the name may really be old.There is the possibility also that the Chilt (PN Sx 4) in West Chiltington is a genuine river-name. Cf. also Saman de Chilteburne of Havering (1318 HPD). In its later history the name has been confused with the common word child , childer .