Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Chambeltone 1086 DB

• Camelton, Kamelton c.1150 BM 1176,1180,1185 P c.1180–90 NLC 1189–96 NLC 1185 RotDom 1548 Pat

• Kamerton 1152–8 NLC

• Kametona 1155 NLC

• Cameltun c.1172–5 Dunst 13th P 1180

• Gamelton 1177 P 1276,1287 Ass 1291 Tax

• Gamelinton 1276 Ass

• Cameletone 1316 FA

• Camulton 1334 Pat

• Cambelton 1356 Cl, Ipm

• Gameleton 1393 IpmR

• Camulton 1400 CS

• Campton 1526 LS

• Campton al. Camelton c.1550 Linc

• Cambleton 1610 Speed

Etymology

Skeat was probably right in conjecturing that we have here to do with a lost river-name. The name would be that of the un-named stream which ultimately joins the Hiz and with it soon joins the Ivel. Skeat quotes the doubtful parallel of the Camel River (Co), famous in Arthurian story. There would seem also to have been a derivative form of this river-name ending in -ar or -er . The stream now known as Cam Brook, which flows into Wellow Brook just before it joins the Avon a few miles south of Bath, is called Camelar or Cameler in BCS 1073. On its banks are Camerton, DB Camerlertone (sic) and Cameley, DB Camelei .From this it is clear that there is ample justification for assuming a river-name Camel or Camelar . We may explain the Bedford Kamer - forms as due to the common Anglo-Norman confusion of l and r or perhaps still better as due to the original name having been Camelerton . The forms of Cameley (So), in which no trace of the r is ever found, show how early it could be lost.The forms with initial g are due to association with names like Gamlingay from OE  gamol or may be simply examples of the common confusion in ME place-names of initial c and g (cf. IPN 114). The b of the Domesday form may be compared with a b in similar position in the Domesday form of Hamerton, Hunts (infra 242). Tamerton (D), which is certainly derived from the river Tamar, appears as Tambretone in DB.