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.

Flaxton

Major Settlement in the Parish of Bossall

Historical Forms

  • Flaxtune, Flaxton(a) 1086 DB 1129–35 YCh
  • Flastun, Flastona 1086 DB
  • Flacstune 1147–63 Riev
  • Flasseton', Flaxeton' 1295 For

Etymology

The first element may be the Scandinavian pers. name Flak .It is found as a by-name in ON (LindBN), and as the word now means 'fool' in Norw it is the kind of name which would thus have been used in earlier times, v. tun . One might also suggest 'flax farm' from OE  fleax and tun but the form Flacstune is against this.

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site