Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Chenistetone 1086 DB

• Cnititon 1208 Cur

• Cniht(t)eton 1214 ib

• Knighton 1222 ib

• Knicteton 1226 Pat

• Knichton 1236 Fees

• Kny(g)ht(et)on(e) 1288 Ass

• Knyghteton Mayne 1294 Pat 1327 SR 1340 NI 1346 FA

• 'Knyghteton near Mayne' 1348 Cl 1481 Weld1

• Knyʒthton 1270 ChrP 1372

• Knyth(e)ton 1270 1372 SR 1332 Pat 1369

• 'Knythton by Dorchester' 1396 Fine

• Knittetone 1285 FA

• Knython 1300 Ipm

• 'Knyghtone by Dorchestre' 1369 Cl

• Westknyghton 1452 Weld1

• Knyghton iuxta Dorchestre 1466 ib

• Knigteston 1288 Ass

• Kyngtetonemayne 1297 Pat

• Kyngton 1303 FA

Etymology

'The farm of the thegns or retainers of a high personage', from cniht (gen.pl. cnihta ) and tūn ; this manor was held TRE by two taini or thegns (VCHDo 395). Hutch3 2 498 cannot be correct in supposing that West Knighton 'received its name from the Knights Templars or Hospitallers who had a preceptory and lands in this parish' since they were not here until the 13th cent., cf. Fryer Mayne infra . For the AN spelling Cheniste - in DB, v. Zachrisson IPN 104, 113. For the affixes, v. Fryer Mayne and Dorchester par. infra ; the comparatively late addition West - must be to distinguish it from East Knighton in Winfrith N. par. supra , v. west . The 1303 form shows confusion of the first el. with cyning 'king'. There were two mills here in 1086 DB (VCHDo 395).