Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Upton 1361 Cl

• Upton iuxta Ringstede 15 MinAcct 1811 OS

• Vpton 1447 DCMCt 1455 Weld1

• vppertowne 1664 ib

• Spraggs Upton 1774 Hutch1

• Ringstead Upton 1795 Boswell

• Upton Ringstead 1826 Gre

• superior villa 1318 MiltC

Etymology

Upton (SY 742830), Upton 1361 Cl (p), Upton iuxta Ringstede 15MinAcct , 1811 OS, Vpton 1447DCMCt , 1455Weld 1, vppertowne 1664ib , Spraggs Upton 1774 Hutch1, Ringstead Upton 1795 Boswell, Upton Ringstead 1826 Gre, 'higher farm', or 'higher part of the village', v. upp, tūn, perhaps the part of Osmington referred to as superior villa in 1318MiltC and probably so called in contrast to Netherton Fm infra ; in the 1664 form the first el. has been replaced by ModE  upper; for affix Ringstead , v. prec., for Spraggs , cf. East Fm Dairy infra . Upton itself now lies in a valley, but the name must originally have referred to the higher ground to the S between Upton and Upton Ho infra , cf. also East Fm Dairy infra .