West out of Old Jury to Milk Street at No. 16 (Elmes, 1831). In Cheap, Coleman Street and Cripplegate Within Wards.
Now forms part of Gresham Street (q.v.).
First mention: "Catteton streate," 30 Eliz. 1588 (Lond. I. p.m. III. 112).
Stow describes it as extending from Ironmonger Lane to St. Laurence Jury Church, not quite so far west as in the later maps. He speaks of it as "Catte street," corruptly called "Catteten streete" (S. 273).
Earlier forms : "Cattestret," 7 Ed. I. 1279 (Cal. Ch. Rolls, II. 215). "Catestrete," 1331 (Ct. H.W. I. 369). "Catton Lane," 1438 and 1453 (ib. II. 523). "Cattenelane," temp. Ed. I. (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. p. 25). "Ketton street," Agas (G), c. 1570. "Catling Street," temp. Eliz. (Proc. in Chanc. I. 13). "Cateaten streete," Ryther's map, 1608.
It has been suggested that the name is derived from Sampson le Chat, who held property in the neighbourhood in the time of King John, as appears from the Charter Roll, 16th. of his reign : Grant to Wm. de Warenn c Surr of the house formerly of Benedicti Judei Parvi and Ysaac his brother in the Jewry "q est inter terram q fuit Jose presbiteri" "versus occidentem & terra q fuit Sampson Le Chat versus orientem" (Cal. Ch. Rolls. II. 203).
In N. and Q. 8 S. VII. 206, the principal house of Sampson le Chat is said to have been at the corner, facing the church of St. Lawrence Jewry.
The original form of the name, as shown above, was "Catte strete," which occurs as a street name in Oxford and other towns.
"Cateaton Street" appears to have been a later and corrupt form. There is a Cateaton Street in Manchester. In the earlier forms the accent would have been on the first syllable.