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.

Hinton St Mary

Major Settlement in the Parish of Hinton St Mary

Historical Forms

  • at Hamtun(e), to Hamtun(e) 944 ShaftR(S502) 15 958 15 ib
  • Haintone 1086 DB
  • Hainton' 1212 Fees
  • Henton' abbatisse Sancti Edwardi 1212 Fees
  • Henton(e) 1244 Ass 1268 Ass 1288 Ass 1290 ShaftR 15 Tax 1291 Ct 1547
  • Henton Mary 1535 VE 1584 Weld1
  • Henton Marie 1581 ib
  • Heynton' 1327 SR
  • Hynton Mare (sic) Hy8 AOMB
  • Hynton maries 1575 Saxton
  • Hinton Marye 1627 SxAS

Etymology

'High farm, farm situated on high land', from hēah (wk.obl. hēan ) and tūn . Although this is a common name (v. DEPN), the other Do Hintons have a different origin, v. Hinton Martell par. 2 146. The village occupies a 300′ hill overlooking R. Stour. The affix is from its possession by the abbey of St Mary (and St Edward), Shaftesbury, as first suggested by Hutch1 2 201, v. VCHDo 382, cf. the form from 1212 Fees, and the boundary mark on nunnen linc in f.ns. infra . The OE forms (from the 15th cent. Shaftesbury Register) show confusion with the common el. hām-tūn.The bounds of the Anglo-Saxon estate of Hamtun (e ) are given in 944 (15) ShaftR (S 502).