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.

Allweston (Fm)

Early-attested site in the Parish of Folke

Historical Forms

  • Alveston(') 1214 Cur 1316,1431 FA 1516,1531 Digby 1553 Prideaux 1661 Hutch3
  • Alueston(') 1288 Ass 1332 SR 1377 FF 1406,1464,1484 Digby
  • Alveston, Alston vulgo Ason 1870 Hutch3
  • Alfeston 1214,1390,1436 FF
  • Alfeeston 1244 Ass
  • Alpheston 1268 FF
  • Alfletheston' 1244 Ass
  • Alueueston' 1268 Ass
  • Alfresteston' 1280 Ass
  • Bere Alueston' 1288 Ass
  • Avelstone Eliz ChancP
  • Allweston 1630 Sher
  • All-Weston 1664 HTax
  • Alweston 1811 OS

Etymology

This is probably from an OE  pers.n. in Ælf - such as Ælfhēah or Ælfwīg with tūn 'farm, estate', cf. Alvescot O 298, Alveston Gl 3111. However the 13th cent. forms Alfletheston ' and Alueueston ' suggest the fem. OE  pers.ns. Ælfflǣd and Ælfgifu , and it is possible that Allweston is from one or other of these with stān 'stone'. The addition Bere in 1288 may be manorial, cf. Walter le Bere 1332 SR (Bishop's Caundle), or toponymic, cf. Robert atte Bere ib (N Wootton), from bǣr 2 '(woodland) pasture' or bearu 'grove'.