Heritage of Tarrant Keyneston Dorset
Tarrant Keyneston is one of the eight villages connected by the River Tarrant running through this undulating North Dorset valley. While it’s picturesque though, the name ‘Tarrant’ means “invasive” or “liable to flood”!
The first reference to the village is in the Domesday Book of 1086 and shown as “Tarrant Kayneston”. The second part of its name is derived from Ralph de Caineto who came over with William the Conqueror. It was known as an estate on the river Tarrant held by the Cahaignes family. The eldest son was given the Manor of Tarrant and over time the name changed through “Kaynes” to “Keines”.