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.

Great and Little Orton

Major Settlement in the Parish of Orton

Historical Forms

  • Orreton' 1210 Cur 1363 Ipm
  • Great, Little 1267 Ch
  • Orrenton 1279 Ass
  • Orretown 1332 SR
  • Oreton c.1215 Weth
  • Horeton c.1225,c.1265 ib
  • Ortun c.1225 Weth
  • Orton' 1232 Ch
  • litil 1424 CCt
  • magna, lytill 1485 Orton
  • Overton 1270 FF 1302 NorthReg 1485
  • or Overton 1580 FF
  • Oraton 1365 Fine
  • paruahorton 1565 Orton
  • Warton 1586 CWxi
  • Worton 1800 ib
  • Ortonhow 1549 Orton, 1801 PR

Etymology

In the parish was Ortonhow 1549Orton , 1801 PR.

'Orri 's tūn,' Orri being an Old Norse nickname from orri , 'blackcock.' The same personal name occurs in Orby (L). See DEPN and LindB s. n . The Overton forms would seem to be due to confusion with Orton (We), earlier Overton .