Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Tachestedā 1086 DB

• Tacsted(e) 1212 RBE 1248 Ass

• Tax(s)ted(e) 1235–55 Ass 1238 SR 1251 Ch 1256–91 FF 1271 Pat 1275 RH

• Thacsted(e) 12th LibEl 1291 FF 1303 FA

• Tha(c)ksted(e) 1269 FF

• Thasted 1303 FA

• Thax(s)ted(e) 1332 Londin 1346 FA 1352 Ipm

• Thax(s)ted(e) Burgus 1399 MinAcct 1461–2 Pat

• Taystede 1221 Bracton 1285 Ass

• Traxstede 1224 FF

Etymology

Thaxted is a compound of OE  þæc , the ancestor of the modern thatch , and stede . The element þæc is fairly common in place- and field-names, as in Thatcham (PN Berks 59), and Thackmire (PN NbDu 194), Thackemedew (1538MinAcct ) in Clavering, and denotes in such names the material for thatching rather than the thatching itself, and should be interpreted, like the dial. thack , as denoting 'reeds, rushes, long coarse grasses used as thatching material.' Hence 'place where reeds or other plants used in thatching grow.'