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.

Faunstone

Early-attested site in the Parish of Shaugh

Historical Forms

  • Faunteston 1339 Ass
  • Faundeston 1346 Ass

Etymology

The name is probably to be associated with the family of Samson le Enfaunt , a juror of Plympton Hundred in 1249 (Ass ).Cf. Fonston (Co), Fonteston , Faunteston 1284Ass , Fanteston 1311Ass . For OFr  faunt as a surname, cf. Weekley, Surnames 245, 247. Hence, 'Faunt 's farm,' v. tun .