Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Heletune 1086 DB

• Heltun 1199–1216 AddCh

• Heleton 1305 Lacy

• Haltona 1135–1154 Orm2 17 Cott.Nerociii 1190–1211

• Halthon(a) 1185–90 Facs H3 Orm2

• Halton 1185–90 Facs

• le Halton 1334 VR

• West Halton 1574 Sheaf

• Halton near Deresburye 1581 AD

• Haltone c.1277 1295,1305 Lacy

• Alton(a) c.1154 Tab 1260 Court

• Haulton(a) c.1154 Dugd 1329 Chol c.1190

• Haultun c.1185 Chol

• Hauleton(e) 1252 RBE 1338 Pat

• Hethelton 1174 Orm2

• Hadelton c.1200 Whall

• Hathelton m13 Orm2 17

• Haleton 1194–1211,e14 Whall

• Hauton c.1200 Facs 1240 P 1306 MinAcct

• Hautone 1295 Lacy

• Hau(g)hton, Haghton 1287 Court

• Hawton 1398 Orm2

• Haw(e)ltun 1240 P

• Hawelton m13 Orm2

• Hauilton, Hauelton c.1270 AddCh 1287 Court

• Halyl'thon 13 Tab

• Hehylthon 13 Tab

• Halyton c.1277 AD

• Halgton' 1295 AddCh

• Halghton 1301 Pat 1344

• Halughton 1397 JRC

• Holton 1296 Plea

• Hailton l13 AddCh

• Hathton 1304 Chamb

• Hallton' 1487 MinAcct

Etymology

Probably 'farm at a heathery place', from tūn and the p.n. el. OE  *hāðel, *hǣðl, supposed for Halton (near Bingley) YW (Hatelton 1086, Hathelton 1156, Ageltunum 1160, Hageltune 13, Hadelton 1203–6, Halton 13) and Haddlesey YW, v. WRY 4163, 18–19.Ekwall (Studies3 62–3) suggests that the Yorkshire Halton may contain the OE  pers.n. Haðuwulf , and the same might be said of Halton Ch. There is no certain evidence in the forms and an occasional gen.sg. form in -es - might have been expected. His other proposal (DEPN) that Halton Ch is from halh must be rejected. That el. may have been substituted for *hāðel in some forms, and it would be relevant to Halton's position on the peninsula between Mersey and Weaver. The village and castle stand on a very bold and prominent hill, so that el. OE  *haðol 'a hollow', proposed in Studies3 62–63, WRY 4 xi, for Haddlesey YW, does not apply here. For the development of the forms of Halton cf. WRY 4163, ANInfl 100–7, Feilitzen 102–3. A greater degree of AN influence is to be expected in the forms of the Ch p.n. since Halton was the head of the Norman barony of Halton Hundred 2supra .