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.

Padnal Fen

Early-attested site in the Parish of Ely St Mary and Ely Trinity

Historical Forms

  • Pandenhal(e) (sic) 1221 ElyA 1251 ElyCouch
  • Padenhal(e) ib.
  • Padenalefen 1450 Ct
  • Padnale 1432–79 ib
  • Padnal(l) 1561 ib
  • Padnoll 1658 BLAcct

Etymology

Padnal Fen is Pandenhal (e ) (sic)1221ElyA , 1251ElyCouch , Padenhal (e )ib., Padenhal (e )fen ) t. Hy 3WMP , 1277Ely , Padenalefen 1450Ct , Padnale 1432–79 ib., Padnal (l )1561 ib., Padnoll 1658BLAcct . As always in Pad -names one is presented with the alternative of derivation from the OE  personal name Pad (d )a or from OE  pada , 'toad, frog.'In fenland one is naturally inclined to the latter, with what measure of justification it is impossible to say. Hence either 'frog's or Pada 's nook,' v. healh . For the former we may perhaps compare Pathewere , Padewere 1086 InqEl, a fishery of the monks of Ely.