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.

Charlton

Early-attested site in the Parish of Hitchin

Historical Forms

  • Cerletone 1086 DB
  • Chereltune late12th BM
  • Cherleton 1198 FF 1329 Ipm
  • Sherleton 1271 Pat
  • Charleton 1448 FF
  • Chalton 1656 Sess

Etymology

Charlton [tʃɔˑltən] is Cerletone 1086 DB, Chereltune late 12th BM, Cherleton 1198FF , 1329 Ipm, Sherleton 1271 Pat, Charleton 1448FF , Chalton 1656 Sess. 'Farm of the “churls,”' v. ceorl , tun . For initial sh , cf. the pronunciation of Charlecote (PN Wa 250) as [ʃɑˑlkət] and the form Sherlecote (1217 Bracton).