22 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COTTESWOLD CLUB 



eye the country in its early state, when it was frequently 

 invaded by foreigners, when it was clothed with vast 

 forests full of wild animals, with here and there a clearing 

 which was inhabited by a few rude and unlettered men, 

 whose habits and ideas were of the most primitive descrip- 

 tion ; when scattered over the country in commanding 

 situations were the Castles of Chieftains or of the great 

 Barons, who kept all around them beneath their sway ; 

 when the wealthy monasteries served as schools, hotels, 

 and poor-houses ; when the towns were in their infancy, 

 and the industries in them were for the most part carried 

 on by hand. 



Still in our researches we must not confine ourselves 

 entirely to the earlier periods, but must follow the course 

 of the great river of time till it loses itself in the absorbing 

 ocean of modern days. 



Having said thus much by way of preface, I will now 

 proceed to give a few of the chief origins of the names of 

 places, and through places sometimes of men. 



Ton was used to signify a farm and its surroundings, 

 and has become part of the name of many villages, which, 

 as the population increased, sprung up around the original 

 farm. To illustrate the ancient use of the word Ton I 

 may quote from Wycliffs Bible. In the parable of the 

 Prodigal Son his rendering is : " And he wente and 

 drough him to one of the cyteseynes of that country and 

 he sente him into his toun to feed swyn." This word ton 

 is used in combination with some other word, as Nor-ton, 

 North-town. In Scotland there is Tong, and in Yorkshire 

 Tonge, probably from the same origin. 



Ham. Saxon, meant a private estate with a village on 

 it — a manor. Wickham was a superior farm-house, and 

 took the place of the Roman Villa, and came to be the 

 manor-house. The German form is hieni, the English 

 home. The old form ham continues in local names. 

 Examples — Cheltenham, Newnham ; but in general 

 English it has come to bear the meaning of home. 



