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.

Milton Abbas

Major Settlement in the Parish of Milton Abbas

Historical Forms

  • (in to) Middeltone 843 ASCharters 843 BCS739
  • of Middel tune, to Middel tune 964 ASC l10
  • Middeltun(e) c.1000 Saints
  • Mid(d)eltun(e) 1086 DB
  • Miteltona Exon
  • Mid(d)elton(i)a 12 SD 1130 PR 1156 RBE
  • Mid(d)elton(e) 1162,1165 P 1201 Cur 1203 P 1558 PlR
  • Mid(d)eltun(') 1211 Cur 1222 Pat 1226 Cur 1227 FF 1247 Lib
  • Mid(d)leton 1202 Abbr 1280 Ch 1291 Pat 1338 Cl 1575 Saxton
  • Mid(d)ilton(') 1261 Cl 1453 Sher
  • Myddilton' 1268 Ass
  • Myd(d)elton(') 1268 FF 1280 QW 1291 Tax 1428 FA 1531 AD
  • Mildeton' 1271 Cl
  • Mildelton' 1438 Weld1
  • Middeton' 1440 ib
  • Middelton otherwise Milton' 1446 Cl
  • Med(d)elton(') 1262 Vaux c.1447 Cl 1341
  • Middelton' Abbatis 1268,1288 Ass 1392 Pat
  • Middelton' Abbas 1456 ib
  • Middleton Abbatis 1298 FF
  • Myddelton Abbot's 1421 Pat
  • Milton(') 1268 Ass 1275 Cl 1305 Pat 1318 Ch
  • Milton(') als. Middleton 1558–79 ChancP 1582 AD
  • Mylton 1426 Cl 1575 PlR
  • Melton 1392 Cl
  • Multon' 1412 Weld1
  • Milton Tregonwell c.1566 Hutch3
  • the New Town of Milton l18 SalisT
  • Tregonwell in 1539 (Hutch3 4 383)

Etymology

'Middle farm or estate', from middel and tūn , 'middle' possibly in relation to other neighbouring settlements but perhaps more probably 'from its situation, which is as near the centre of the county as its irregular form will permit' (Hutch3 4382). The affix Abbas (Lat  abbas 'an abbot', gen.sg. abbatis 'of the abbot') refers to the former Abbey here, which also possessed the manor in early times, v. Milton Abbey infra . The manor was granted to John Tregonwell in 1539 (Hutch3 4383). The 'New Town' refers to the village rebuilt on its present site in 1786–7, the original site of the village having been around the Abbey.The bounds of the manor are described in 1385 (e15) MiltRoll .