Names of the Baldons Villages

The villages of the Baldons are known now as Marsh Baldon, Toot Baldon and Little Baldon. The origin of these names, like those of many small villages, is not known for sure - but these are the most likely explanations:

Baldon – the Anglo-Saxons named the area “Bealda's hill”, Bealda possibly being an Anglo-Saxon chief

Marsh or March – this could be derived from the de la Mare family who held the land from the 13^th century, or it may merely indicate the nature of the low-lying or ill-drained land, or it could indicate that the settlement was on the border of another settlement, i.e. Toot (as in the Welsh Marches)

Toot – means lookout or hill. The fact that early settlers would usually choose higher ground suggests that Toot Baldon probably was an earlier settlement than Marsh Baldon.

Over the centuries, as villages have evolved, many name variants and different spellings have been used. Here are a few. Have you come across any other variations?

·      Bealda’s Hill (Anglo-Saxon)

·      Baldedone / Baldetone / Baldendone (Domesday book, 11^th Century)

·      De la Mare’s Baldon (13^th Century?)

·      Marsh Baldon Windsor (16^th Century)

·      Baudendon

·      Balden

·      Baldwin

·      Baldon Marsh

·      March Baldon

·      Baldon March

·      Baldon Toot

·      Toote Baldon

·      Baldon St Lawrence (originally a separate settlement, now part of Toot Baldon)

·      Baldon St Laurence

·      Baldon in the Row

·      Taut Baldon (17^th Century)

·      Baldington (The Queen’s College survey of 1770)