English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Litton

Major Settlement in the Parish of Litton

Historical Forms

  • Litun 1086 DB
  • Litton(e), Lytton(e) e.13th DbCh 1252 DbAv 1254 LichChart 1265 Misc 1277 FF
  • Lutton 1302,1346 FA 1398 Fine

Etymology

In spite of the occasional Lut - forms this cannot be identical with Litton Cheney (PN Do 247) as suggested by Ekwall (DEPN). His etymology 'farm on a torrent' (v. hlȳde , tūn ), can hardly be correct, the nearest stream of note being over half a mile away. More likely it is 'farm on a slope or hillside' (v. hlið 1 , tūn ), which is topographically appropriate.