Marden
Major Settlement in the Parish of Marden
Historical Forms
- Mercdene 941 BCS769 14th
- Mercdena 1170 P
- Merh dæne 963 c.1150 ib
- Meresdene 1086 DB
- Mereden(e) 1211 RBE 1229 Cl 1242 Fees
- Mergdena 1167,1169 P
- Merden(e) 1242 Fees 1275 RH 1406 Pat
- Mereghedene 1280 WIpm
- Merghdene 1291 Tax
- Merghedene 1304,1305 Ass 1306 Sarum 1318 FF 1341 NI
- Myrgheden 1359 Ipm
- Merewedene 1298 Ass
- Merwheden 1322 Pat
- Merweden(e) t.Ed2,1332 SR 1334 Ass t.Ed3 For 1362 Ipm 1412 FA
Etymology
The early forms suggest the possibility of a compound of OE mearc and denu, hence 'boundary valley,' but the form merh dæne comes from a better cartulary than the others and agrees better with the later developments. The probabilities are therefore that the first element is the OE mærg , merg , mærh , mearh , 'marrow, fat,' and that the whole name denotes a fertile valley. For the use of this word in place-names cf. Merrow (PN Sr 142).