Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Arlosk 1185,1304 HolmC 1332 SR 1339 GDR 1366 Carliol 1393 Pat 1411 Pap

• Arloske 1354 Ass

• Arlossche 1332 SR

• Arlossh(e) 1379 ADvi 1418 Pat

• Neutonarlosk' 1345 GDR

• Newton Arloche 1538 MinAcct

• Newton Erloshe 1636 LRMB

• Newton Arlosh 1649 ParlSurv

• Newton 1552 CW(OS)viii

• Newtowne 1604 Ct

• Langnewton 1576 S

• Trelosk 1272 DKRxlii 1280 Ass

• Treloscon 1249 Cl

• -loskan 1287 FF, Ass

• Kirkebi Johannis 1305 HolmC

Etymology

Arlosh may be compared with certain Cornish place-names, Trelask, Trelosk 1272 DKR xlii, 1280Ass , Trelaske, Trelosch DB, Trelosca ExonDB, Trelosc 1272 Launceston, and Treloscan, Treloscon 1249 Cl, -loskan 1287 FF, Ass . The second element seems to be Welsh  llosg , Cornish, Breton losk , losc , 'burning, a burning,' perhaps with reference to an area cleared by fire. In the Cumberland name ar may be the British preposition ar , 'on, upon,' or the intensive prefix, as Sir Ifor Williams suggests. The meaning is similar to that of Barnet (PN Herts 70), 'place cleared by burning,' Cf. also Arsure, les Arsures, Arsurette (Dept, of Eure), from Late Latin arsūra , and Usclas, Usclats (Cantal), les Usclas (High Alps), from Late Latin ūstulātum (Gröhler ii, 128–9).

The place was called Newton apparently because it was the 'new' town established by the Abbey of Holm Cultram to take the place of the town of Skinburness which had been destroyed by the sea. It was also known as Kirkebi Johannis (1305 HolmC) (v. kirkja , bȳ ), presumably from the dedication of the church. Newton Arlosh church is dedicated to St John the Evangelist (cf. CW xxxvi, 197–8). It was called Long Newton to distinguish it from Westnewton infra 328.