Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Totham c.950 ASWills c.14th c.1000 DB 1086

• Totham Foliot 1235 Ass

• Totham Magna 1255 1270 FF

• Totham Neuil, Totham Jarpenuil 1285 Ass 1321 Londin

• Miche Totham 1552 EAS(OS)v

• Much Totham 1642 HMCvii

• Toteham 1086 DB

• Toteham Parva t.Hy2 Bodl 1246 Cl

• Toteham Jarpeuill', Toteham Jarpevyle 1291 For

• Tut(e)ham, Tut(e)ham Folyam 1235,1254 Ass 1547 FF

• Thotham Neuill, Thotham Jarpe(n)uill' 1248 Ass 1254 FF

• T(h)otham Parva 1303 FA

• Parva Todham 1248 Ass

• Great Totham Nevile 1260 Bodl

• Myche Tottam 1552 EASx

• Totteham 1255 Ass

• Totteham Neuill 1276 For

• Tot(t)enham 1291 For 1398 IpmR

• Nevill (1212 RBE)

• Charpenwile (t. Hy 3 ib.)

Etymology

The second of the OE  forms for Totham is from a contemporary document and we can therefore hardly interpret the first element as anything but tot or possibly tote . The original site of Totham is unknown but there is plenty of high ground in the parish, including Beacon Hill infra 311, which is one of the highest, if not the highest, points in the county (Wright ii, 702).The probabilities are therefore that we have an early example of tot (e ), 'look-out place,' some 300 years earlier than the first example recorded in NED s. v. toot sb. 1. Great Totham was formerly called Nevile from Hugh de Nevill (1212 RBE) and Little had a feudal attribute from the holding of John de Charpenwile (t. Hy 3 ib.).