Dorchester
Major Settlement in the Parish of Dorchester
Historical Forms
- Dorcic, Dorciccaestræ c.730 Bede,HistoriaEcclesiastica
- Dorceceastre, Dorcesceastre 635–6 ASC c.900
- Dorcocensis 995 KCD691 10th
- Dorchacestrensis c.1075 RegAntiquiss
- Dorchecestre 1086 DB
- Dorchecestr' 1170 P
- Dorchecr' 1193 P
- Dorkecestre 1086 DB 1365 Cl
- Dorkecr' 1193,4,5 P
- Drkecestr' 1200 Cur
- Dorkecett' 1240–1 Ass
- Dorcacestrie 1173–82 Eynsh
- Dorcacestra c.1178 Eynsh
- Dorkacestrrya 1414 Os
- Dorcestre c.1210 Frid c.1425 Frid c.1320 c.1425
- Dorkcestre c.1211 Frid c.1425 FA 1346
- Derkecestr' 1226 Fees c.1300
- Dorchestre 1331 Cl
- Dorkchestre 1346 FA 1354 Ipm
Etymology
The second element is ceaster, 'Roman station.' Dorchester is on a Roman road. The first is British Dorcicon , which Ekwall (DEPN) suggests may come from the root derk - found in Welsh drych , 'aspect,' OIr dercaim , 'I see,' and OE torht , 'bright.' From this root are derived also the river-name Dorce , the old name of a tributary of the Cole W, and the name of Condorcet in France. But Professor Jackson warns us that this etymology is “at least highly doubtful.”