About » Tooting Life Town Centre

Tooting has been known by various spellings including: Totinges, Totynge, Toting, Tootting and Towting.

The Name of Tooting
It has certainly been known as Tooting since 1767. There are a number of theories as to how Tooting got it's name, including:

It was a part of an ancient Ley Line
It was a hamlet where Roman slaves were lodged
It was named after a Saxon Tribe called Totas or Totingas
It was based on a variation of a name that meant 'lookout place'
It was a trading post

According to Black's guide of Surrey published in 1880 the name of Tooting derives from an ancient Saxon Tribe called the Totingas. Tota was their chief and the word 'ingas' means people. Eric Overton, who wrote a detailed account of Tooting Graveney, concurs with this theory.

Others however claim that Toot is derived from the word "Theou" meaning slave plus the word "ing" meaning dwelling (i.e. place where Roman slave lived).

It is most probable that some people lived in the area during Roman times as the Road from London to Chicester (Thane Street) which passed along the current Tooting High Street, had to cross the river Graveney, the place would have been ideal spot for locals to farm and sell refreshments to travellers on the road.

In fairness to the lookout theory, the Oxford Dictionary gives:

TOUT:
A thieves lookout man; a person who solicits trade, or a verb meaning to keep a sharp lookout
ING:
A middle English word meaning a meadow, place, location or position


Please note that as you browse the history section, you may find that it contains some disputed facts! Do let us know so we can update the information and get a better record of Tooting's history.

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