Tolworth
Major Settlement in the Parish of Tolworth
Historical Forms
- Taleorde 1086 DB
- Taleworda 1130 P
- Talewurtha 1150–67 Merton
- Talewurða 1175 P 1314 Ipm
- Suth Taleworth 1290 FF
- Northtaleworth 1314 Ipm
- Tallewurth 1179 Merton 1220 Bracton
- Talleworth 1348 FF
- Tallworth 1387 FF
- Talleworth 1613 FF
- Taleswrth 1200 Cur
- Talesworth 1314 Ipm
- Telewrthe 1205 Cur
- Telesworth 1314 Merton
- Talworth 1352 Merton 1866 O.S.
- Tolworth 1601 SrWills
Etymology
This is a difficult name. From the OE adj. (ge )tæl , 'swift, prompt,' may have been formed a personal name Tala , 'quick, prompt,' but we have no other evidence for such. There is a river-name Tale (PN D 13), but Tolworth is on Hogs Mill River, of which we know the earlier name, so a stream-name is out of the question.