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.

Carshalton

Major Settlement in the Parish of Carshalton

Historical Forms

  • (æt) Aweltune 880–5 BCS553 c.1000
  • Æuueltone 675 BCS 13th
  • Euualtone 933 BCS697 13th
  • Aultone 1086 DB
  • Awlton 1196 Merton
  • Awylton 1196 FF
  • Awelton 1192,1207 FF 1225 Ass 1263 Merton
  • Chershautone 1199 ChR
  • Kersaulton 1218 Merton
  • Kersawelton 1225 Ass 1229 FF
  • Kershawelton 1244 Fees
  • Cershawelton 1255 Ass
  • Cresaulton 1235 Ass
  • Cressauton 1255 Ass
  • Creshalton 1263 Ass
  • Cressalton 1259–75 Ch
  • Kressalton 1285 Ass
  • Cresalton 1381 BM
  • Kersalton 1239 FF 1242 Fees
  • Kersaulton 1259–75 Ch c.1270,1301 Winton
  • Kersholton 1255 Ass
  • Carshaulton 1279 Ass
  • Carshalton 1323 FF
  • Carsolton 1556 FF
  • Cassaltion 1370 FF 1491 Ipm 1546 FF
  • Casshallton 1594 SACxviii
  • Kyrsalton 1381 BM
  • Crassalton 1426 FF
  • Crasalton 1498 BM

Etymology

The original OE  name was evidently ǣwiell -tūn , 'farm by the spring head,' v. æwiell , tun . Aubrey (ii, 74) notes that it lies low and that in it rise many springs. Later the element 'cress' was added (OE  cærse, ME  kerse , cres (se )), possibly to distinguish the place from other Altons; already in the 13th century we have (t. Hy 3AddCh ) the grant of a messuage in Carshalton cum kersenaria (i.e. a watercress bed), and there are still watercress beds by the Wandle, one of the headsprings of which is here.

Places in the same Parish