Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Overton, Ouerton 1239 FF 1256 Ass7d c.1270 NB 1278 1279 Ass1,5d 1286 Ipm 1292 1294,1302 Carliol 1674 PR(CR)

• -als. Overyge 1310 Whitby

• Sker- 1319 NB

• -Dacre 1369 Cliff

• Ovirton, Ovyrton 1293 Carliol 1459 Fine

• Orton 1263 CWiv,164 1580 PR(K) 1625 PR(R) 1655 FF 1703 NicVisit

• -als. Ou-, Overton, -towne 1279 Abbr 1618 FF 1668 PR(R) 1704 Terr

• Orton Town 1672 NWm

• Owertone 1280 Lowth(AB30)

Etymology

'Farmstead on a hill-side', v. ofer 2 , tūn ; the later form Orton shows a common reduction and loss of -f - as in such p.ns. as Orton (Hu 193, Wa 47). The affix Sker - is derived from Orton Scar (infra ), and Dacre from John de Dacre who held a moiety of Orton (Cliff 331, NB 487).