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.

Sutton

Early-attested site in the Parish of Plymouth

Historical Forms

  • Sutona 1086 DB
  • Sutton(e) 1201 FF
  • Sudton(e) 1201 Cur
  • Suthton(e) 1264 Exon 1281 Ass
  • pola de Sutton 1275 RH
  • Sottone 1291 Tax
  • Sytton 1319 Ipm

Etymology

'South farm,' perhaps with reference to Stoke (infra 240). This was the original name of the area now called Plymouth, that name being at first applied only to the harbour (v. supra 233–4). The name Sutton survives in Sutton Pool. In medieval times there were two manors of Sutton, namely Sutton Prior , held by Plympton Priory, and Sutton Vautort , held by the family of Vautort or de Valle Torta (v. FA 340, 354, 380).