Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Cerneli 1086 DB(f.80a)

• Cern(e)ia 15 Forde

• Chartreston(') 1268 1280 13 Forde 15

• Chartereyis ston' 1268 Ass

• Charterestune, Chartereiston' 13 Forde 15

• Chartereyston', Charrereyston' (sic, for Chartereyston') m13 15 ib

• Chart'istone ib (p)

• Charstereston' 1324 15 ib

• Kartereston' 1280 Ass

• Cartereston(e) e14 Forde 15 Inqaqd 1325 FA 1346 Fine 1406,1419 Pat 1460

• Cartreston 1316 FF

• Carterresston' 1318 HarlCh

• Carteriston(') 1324 Forde 15 Fine 1386

• Carterston 1325 Pat 1431 FA

• Cardeston 1293 Pat

• Cattereston 1303 FA

• Catereston 1428 FA 1488 Ipm

• Catemersshton (sic) 1412 FA

• Carteston 1428 ib

• Catherston 1535 VE 1811 OS

• Katherston' 1570 Brid

• Lesterton 1268 Ass

• Leystreston iuxta Lyme 1319 Poul 15

• Cardeston et Lesterton 1316 FA

• Cartereston et Leyston(e), Cartereston Leiston, Catereston Leyston 1422 Ct

• Katherston' Lewson' 1576 Poul

• the fearme of Catherston Lewston 1646 SC 1795 Boswell

• Catherston Lewson 1664 HTax

• Cerneli in 1086 DB

Etymology

The present par. name is a combination of two originally distinct names, probably for adjacent estates. Catherston is 'estate of a family called Charteray ', v. tūn , cf. Robert Charteray 13 (15) Forde (a witness in a Charmouth deed), Robert Chartrei 1327 SR (a taxpayer in Loders), and, for the same family, cf. Chart Knolle in Stoke A. par. supra : the surname probably originates from the French p.n. Carteret (La Manche), v. Tengvik 81–2. Leweston is 'estate of a family called Lester (de Lestre )', v. tūn , cf. Richard del Estre 1204 (1313) Ch (held in Charmouth infra ) and William de Estra (for Lestra ) named c.1086 GeldR in an entry recording that the king had never had tax from one hide held by him from the Count of Mortain: this holding is identified with Cerneli (Catherston Leweston) by Eyton 141–2 and by ThornDB, note to 26, 64.This surname is also from a French p.n., Lestre (La Manche), v. Tengvik 94–5.

The references to villa que dicitur Cernia and ten ' de Cern (e )ia associated with Ace de Lestre or del Estre n.d. (15) Forde (ff. 32–3) probably also belong here (Cern (e )ia is from R. Cerne (Char) with Brit -i suffix commonly found in r.ns., v. RN lxxvii). For the identification of the DB form Cerneli (likewise 'estate on R. Char, earlier Cerne '), v. Eyton 141–2, VCHDo 3 88, ThornDB 26, 64; this R. Cerne (forming the SE bdy of the par.) gives name to Charmouth par. infra (earlier Cearn (æl )) and is identical in origin with the R. Cerne which gives name to Cerne A. par. supra q. v. for discussion of the suffixed form Cerneli , v. also RNs. infra . There was a mill at Cerneli in 1086 DB.