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.

Turkdean

Major Settlement in the Parish of Turkdean

Historical Forms

  • (on) Turcandene 716–43 BCS165 11th BCS882 944 KCD1360 10
  • (vallis qui dicitur) turcadenu 779 BCS230
  • ofer turcendene 816 BCS356 11th
  • Tvrchedene 1086 DB
  • Turchedena 1151–7 Oseney 1168 P 1199 ClR
  • Turkesd' Hy1 Ch 1267
  • Turkenden' 1191 Oseney
  • Turkeden(a), Turkedene 1151,1191,c.1220 Oseney 1220 1236 FF 1248 Ass 1273 Ipm 1274 Cl 1535 VE
  • Turkedene Superiori 1303 FA
  • Turkedeane 1570,1599 FF
  • Thurkeden(e) 1221 Ass 1224,1241 FF 1301 Ipm
  • Thurkeden(e) Sup', Thurkeden(e) Inf' 1327 SR
  • Torkeden(e) 1268 Episc 1287 Ass 1313 WinchLB
  • Thorke(s)den 1284,1295 Episc
  • Turkden superior, Turkden inferior 1587 FF
  • Nether Turckden als. Turden 1611 ib
  • Turkdean 1737 PR

Etymology

'The valley of a river called Turce ', v. denu . The r.n. Turce (gen. Turcan ), which is also alluded to in of Turcanwyllas heafde , on Turcanwyllas heafod 716–43 (11th) BCS 165 'the head of the Turce - stream', is related by Ekwall (RN 420) to the Welsh  r.n. Twrch ; this is from Welsh  twrch 'boar', but a figurative sense has been suggested for its use of rivers which 'form deep channels or holes into which they sink into the earth and are lost for a distance'. v. Addenda.