Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Catale, Catala 1086 DB 1374 YDvi

• Catal(l) 1165 P 1307 YI

• Mykil Catal(l) 1488 FF

• Kahal(a), Cahal(a), Cahale 1150–1200 Tockw 1169 P 13 Tockw 1206–12 YChx 1212 ClR 1213 ChR 1214 Abbr 1236 YChx

• Magna Kihale, Magna Kihala 1190,1191 P

• Kaale e.13 Tockw

• Cathal(e), Kathal(e) 1175–1205 YCh537 1226 FF 1316 Vill 1328 Banco

• Cathel(e) 1276 RH

• Magna Cathel(e) 1303 KF

• Cathalle 1285 KI

• Cattehall 1198 Fount 1303 Aid

• Cattall 1421 Fabr

• Magna Cattall 1392 YDix,89

• Mykyll Cattall 15 YDvi

• Great Cattall 1444 ib

• Mekyl Cattall, Mikil Cattall 1502 Ipm

Etymology

Cattal is usually taken to be 'nook of land haunted by the wild-cat', v. catt , halh (doubtless here denoting a piece of land in a loop of the R. Nidd a little to the south-east of the village). But the Cahale , Kaale spellings would normally arise through AN  influence from Caðale or Caðhale rather than Cat-hale (cf. IPN 110 for AN treatment of medial -ð -). The interpretation is doubtful. Whilst the ON  byname Kaða (cf. Jón kǫðu in Heimskringla), probably a derivative of ON  kaða 'a hen', combined with halh is a possibility, we might also have to allow for a Celtic origin, but its form is obscure.