GENERAL TOPICS
  Introduction
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PUBLICATIONS
  Markyate's Past
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  Book of Markyate

HISTORY TOPICS
  References
  Markyate - the name
  The Old Parishes

PHOTO GALLERIES
  High Street

The name Markyate comes from two Old English words, mearc and geat, meaning Gate at the Boundary. The boundary being the Hertfordshire/Bedfordhire border.

Over the centuries various spellings can be seen on old documents, maps and manuscripts, including:

• Markzate  1119-46
• Marchiate, Marchiete  1202
• Marczate  1235-60, 1336
• Mercyate  1247
• Markegate  1248
• Merkeyate  1260, 1312
• Markeyate  1299, 1310
• Merkyate  1352
• Markyghate  1390
• Margate  1693
• Marget  1750

From the 16th century onwards and until the early 20th century, Street was usually added on to the name:

• Markeyatestret  1535
• Market(t) Street  1660-1852
• Marget Street  1748, 1751, 1763
• Markyate Street  1845-early 20th century

During the 20th century, the name Markyate predominates.