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.

Tottenham

Major Settlement in the Parish of Tottenham

Historical Forms

  • Toteham 1086 DB 1128–34 BM 1183 AC
  • Totham 1237 Cl
  • Totinham 1227 FF 1284,1310 ib
  • Totynham 1287 ib
  • Totyngham 1325 Cl
  • Thotenham 1236 FF
  • Totenham 1189 CottCh 1543 FF
  • Tottenham 1254 Pat 1286,1303 FF
  • Totenhamstrete 1350 Ipm
  • Totnam 1515 PCC 1544 FF
  • Tottenham otherwise Totnam 1556 ib
  • Tottenham otherwise Tottenham Highecrosse 1569 FF

Etymology

'Totta 's ham.' strete must have reference to the settlement along the main road, Ermine Street, which ran through the old village. v. infra 204. For Highcrosse , v. infra 80. Cf. further Tottenham Court infra 143.