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.

Hampton in Arden

Major Settlement in the Parish of Hampton in Arden

Historical Forms

  • Hantone 1086 DB
  • Hanton(a) c.1170 Ch 1314
  • Hantuna in Ardena t.Hy2 BM
  • Hamton in Ardena t.Hy1 Kenilworth
  • Hamtona 1130 P
  • Hamtune t.Rici Monast
  • Hamptone in Arderne 1200 ChR 1242 Fees 1275 RH 1375 ADiv
  • Hampton 1224 Fees 1291 Tax
  • Hampton in Ardren 1534 ADiii
  • Hampton in Arding 1667 HT
  • Homton 1249–51 Ch

Etymology

It is difficult to be sure whether the original form was (æt þæm ) hēan tūne , 'high tun,' or hamtun . Dugdale (696) says “In that Record (i.e. DB) it is written Hantone , which manifesteth that the name was originally occasioned from the situation,” but phonologically it is easier to explain Hamt - becoming Hant - than Hant - becoming Hamt -, unless we assume early confusion with other Hampton -names. For Arderne v. supra 11.