Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Elston Hill 1811 OS

• Hr Elson Hill & Lr Elson Hill, Elson Hill Pce 1839 TA

• Helistun 1227 FF

• Eliston(') 1280(p),1293 Winch 1310 Inqaqd 1321 MiltC 1356 Pat 1384 Winch

• Elyston(') 1303 1311 Pat 1327 SR 1351 Pat 1383 FF 1480 DCM 1482 Winch

• Eleston' 1327 SR

• Eylyston' 1482 Winch

Etymology

Ellston Hill (ST 637018), Elston Hill 1811 OS, Hr Elson Hill & Lr Elson Hill , Elson Hill Pce 1839TA , named from Helistun 1227 FF, Eliston (')1280(p), 1293Winch , 1310 Inq aqd, 1321MiltC , 1356 Pat, 1384Winch , Elyston (')1303ib , 1311 Pat, 1327 SR (p), 1351 Pat, 1383 FF, 1480DCM , 1482Winch , Eleston '1327 SR (p), Eylyston '1482Winch , possibly 'farmstead or estate of a man called El(l)i', from the OE  pers.n. El (l )i (gen.sg. -es ) and tūn . However it is perhaps more likely that this is a late tūn-name and that the first el. is rather ME  Elis (from Elias , the Greek form of the Hebrew Elijah ), either as pers.n. or surname, cf. Elston W 235 (Elyston 1249, from Elias Giffard ) for such a post-Conquest formation. Elys is frequent as a Do surname in 1327, 1332 SR, etc., cf. perhaps especially Thomas Elys 1332 SR (a taxpayer in the neighbouring par. of Minterne M.), and note also the f.n. Ellis ' Close 1839TA in this par. infra . The earthworks at New Barn (ST 635008) represent the remains of the medieval hamlet of Ellston, v. DoNHAS 7881.