Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Etonboot 1404 ChRR

• le Eton Bote 1465 Orm2

• Eton Bott 1530 Dav

• the Eton Boat 1549 Sheaf

• Eaton Bot 1562 ib

• Eaton-Boat 1656,1666 Orm2

• Eaton Boat, Eaton Boat House 1671,1716,1745,1771 Sheaf

• Eaton-Boate 1672 Orm2

• Eyton Boat 1709 Sheaf

• Eaton Boat 1745 ib

• the Boat House 1711 ib

• Eytonis Boote 1415–82 ib

• le Bote 1430 ib

Etymology

Eaton Boat (lost, 109–420605), Etonboot 1404 ChRR, le Eton Bote 1465 Orm2, Eton Bott 1530Dav , the Eton Boat 1549 Sheaf, Eaton Bot 1562 ib, Eaton -Boat 1656, 1666 Orm2, Eaton Boat , Eaton Boat House 1671, 1716, 1745, 1771 Sheaf, Eaton -Boate 1672 Orm2, Eyton Boat 1709 Sheaf, Eaton Boat 1745 ib, the Boat House 1711 ib, Eytonis Boote 1415–82 ib, le Bote 1430 ib, 'the ferry-boat at Eaton', v. bāt . This ferry-boat is mentioned in 1307–27 Orm2 ii832 and appears as a feudal incident of Eaton manor, cf. 'manor of Eaton with the ferry and free boat there '1502, 1509, 1543 Orm2 ii835. This is an ancient ferry originally crossing R. Dee from Buerton to Eaton, cf. Boat Lane 80supra . In the eighteenth century it was removed to Eccleston Ferry 118supra , 151 infra , and the old ferry house, the "Boat House" inn, was demolished, cf. Sheaf1 1 (313, 324), Sheaf3 40 (8535, 8545). In 1666 the ferry gave rise to the name Eaton-boat sometimes used as the name of the township.