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.

Tipton St Johns

Early-attested site in the Parish of Ottery St Mary

Historical Forms

  • Tipton 1381 Rental
  • Tippeton 1413 Oliver
  • Tuppeton 1382 Oliver

Etymology

These two somewhat difficult names should perhaps be taken together. Tipton lies low on a feeder of the Otter and probably contains the pers. name Tippa , found in various names (v. Tipnoak PN Sx 214). Tiphill is on comparatively high ground and Tuphill is probably for 'At uphill.' Tuphill would readily be transformed to Tiphill and it is probable that the influence of the not very distant Tuphill gave rise to such a form as Tuppeton for Tipton , while Tipton itself may have influenced some of the forms of Tiphill .