Fother Marsh
Early-attested site in the Parish of Pett
Historical Forms
- le Fothre (terra), marisco del fothre 1196 FF
- marisc. circa le Fodre c.1197 Pens
- la Fothr' 1279 QW
- Fothre 1309 Pat
- Fother 1207 FF
- Fothre Mill 1251 Pens
- Fodyr 1458 Pat
Etymology
Professor Ekwall suggests that this should be associated with OE fōþer , fōdor , 'cartload,' the land possibly being so called because it yielded a cart-load of some crop. Cf. Fatherford (D), Foddreford 1296 (SR ) 'a ford which would carry a load.'Dr Ritter would connect it with the same word used to mean 'sheath' and take it to refer to the shape of the land. He compares the similar use of ON Slíðr , cf. NG xi, 431.