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.

Sourton

Major Settlement in the Parish of Sourton

Historical Forms

  • swuran tune, of swuran tune c.970 BCS1247
  • Surintona 1086 DB
  • Suret(h)on' c.1200 Torre 15th Fees756,773 1242
  • Surton 1249 Ass 1284 FA
  • Sourton(e) 1286 Ipm 1303 FA 1331 Ipm
  • Sourton(e) juxta Bridestowe 1339 Ass
  • Sworton 1577 Saxton
  • Sowerton 1577 SR 1701 Recov
  • Soreton oth. Sourton 1782 Recov

Etymology

'Farm of or by the neck or col,' v. sweora , tun . The hill on the east side of Sourton separates two deep-cut valleys. For loss of w , cf. Sorley infra 296.