Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Churton c.1170 Chol 1316 City 1468 Plea

• Chirton c.1190 Chol e13 Dieul 17 Court 1260 Ipm 1290 VE 1535

• Chirtone 1309 ChRR

• Chyrton 1300–20 AddCh 1305 ChF 14 AddCh 1414 ChRR

• Cherton m13 Sheaf 17 AddCh 1300–20 1454 ib

• Chorton 1698 Sheaf

Etymology

DEPN and EPN propose 'church enclosure', from cirice and tūn , by analogy with Cheriton D, Ha, K, So, Chirton Nb, W. The form Chyrchton c.1334 VR in DEPN refers to a place in Over parish, cf. Church Hill 3171. There is no record of a church at Churton. The place may have been named from some British establishment, but Farndon 73infra was a manor held by the bishop of Chester (i.e. Coventry & Lichfeld) in 1086 and 1066, supporting two priests, so Churton may be named from some connection with Farndon parish church. However, Churton could be 'farm or enclosure at a hill or mound', a Welsh-English hybrid derived from OE  *cyrc a meta- thesised form of OE  *crȳc < PrWelsh  crǖg , v. cruc 1 , tūn , cf. Church Leys 390.