Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• (at) Stoure, Nywetone (rubric) 968 Glast(S764) 14

• Newetone Kastel 1016 Finberg 1727

• Newentone 1086 DB

• Newenton 1272 FF

• Neuton(e) 1196 ChancR 1210–12 RBE

• Niwetun, Niwatona 13 GlastR

• Nyw(e)ton(e), Niw(e)ton(e) 13 1212 Fees 1236 FF 1288 Ass m14 Glast

• New(e)ton(') 1268,1288 Ass 1386 Ilch

• Nova Villa 1286 Ch

• Nywthone 1307 ForReg 15

• Nieuton' 1327 SR

• Neuwetone m14 Glast

• Nuton 1386 Fine

• Newton 1795 Boswell

• Niweton(e) castel, Nyw(e)ton(e)castel, Nyw(e)ton(e) Castel Ed1 Glast m14 Ipm 1297 Ch 1330 Ipm 1350

• vill' de Chastell', Niueton' castel 1280 Ass

• Nyw(t)hon' Castel Ed1 ForReg 15

• Neuton Castell(e) 1350 Ipm 1425 Cl

• Newetoncastel 1350 Ipm

• Neweton Castell 1427 Pat

• Sturministr' 13 GlastR 1288 Ass

• Sturmanstr' 1275 RH

• Sturmynster Abbatis Glaston' 1294 Banco

• Sturmen(i)stre by Niweton Castel 1297 Ipm e14 GlastE

• Sturmen(i)stre Abbatis 1342 GlastF

• Sturminstre Abbatis 1301 Glast m14

• Sturmunstre e14 GlastE

• Sturmynstre (Abbatis) 1333 Pat 1444 Fine

• Sturmynstre Castel 1355 Ipm

• Sturmestre by Neuton Castelle 1425 Cl

• Sturmyster 1548 Ct

• Surminstre Abbatis 13 Glast m14

• Stourminstr(e) 1244 Ass 1535–43 Leland

• Stormenstre 1272 FF

• Stormynstre Abbe 1391 Pat

• Scyremestre (sic) 1280 QW

• Sture(s)ministre 1288 Ass

• Stirmyst' Abb', Styrmyst' Abb' c.1500 Eg

• Stourmister, Stoureton Minster 1535–43 Leland

• Sto'myster 1539 AD

• Stur(e)m(n)inistr!(e) Nyweton(e) 1291 Tax

• Sturmynstre Neuton 1407 Pat

• Sturmynstre Newton 1428 FA

• Stourmynstre and Neweton 1411 Cl

• Stourmyster Newton' e16 Prideaux

• Sturmister Newton 1666 Salkeld

• Sturmynstre Neutoncastell 1437 FF

• Sturmystre Newton' Castell 1475 DuCo

• St(o)ur(e)mynster New(e)ton Castell 1496 Pat 1514 PlR

• Styrmyster Newton' Castell 1533 ib

• Sturminster Newton Castle Towne 1664 HTax

• Sturminster Newton Castle 1870 Hutch3

Etymology

The present name is a combination of the names of two originally separate places, Sturminster on the N side of R. Stour, Newton on the S side, the latter giving name to the hundred (now Sturminster Newton hundred supra ). Sturminster is 'the church on R. Stour' and therefore identical in origin with Sturminster Marshall 245, v. mynster , St Mary's Church, RNs.infra . The Lat  affix -Abbatis 'of the abbot' refers to the possession of the manor by Glastonbury Abbey (from 968, cf. the Anglo-Saxon charter of 968 (14) Glast (S 764), which describes the bounds). Newton is 'new farm or estate', from nīwe (wk.obl. -an ) and tūn ; this is still the name of the part of the par. S of R. Stour. The affix -Castle refers to the earthworks (probably an Iron-Age promontory hill-fort, within which are the 14th cent. ruins of the medieval manor house of the Abbot of Glastonbury, v. Castle infra ) just S of the Town Bridge, v. castel(l) 'castle, camp', RCHM 3 282.