 In the Domesday Book of 1086 it was recorded as "TAVESTOCHE", the 40th of 72 holdings in Devon held in demesne by King William the Conqueror.There were approximately 48.5 households in the settlement at that time making it larger than about 80 percent of other settlements.Matilda de Braose was given 2/3rds of the manor of Tawstock by her childless aunt Loretta, Countess of Leicester.