Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Carltun early12th SD late12th

• Carlentune 1109,[1109]early12th Reg

• Carle'tune 1154×66 ib

• Carleton' 1183 BB c.1320 RPD 1314 Hatf 1382

• Karletun c.1190 RD

• Carletone 1242×3 Ass

• Carleton 1307 RPD 1339etfreqto1624 IPM 1350 Rot 1354 Salvin 1385 Rot 1519etfreqto1723 HC/CB 1750×1 Lond 19th NRCbox7 1805,1818

• Carlleton 1349 IPM

• Karleton 1426×7 ib

• Carlton' 1183 BB c.1382

• karltun 13th Ct

• Carlton 1349 IPM 1382 Hatf 1478 IPM 1609 Lond 1619 IPM 1723×4 Hud

• Carlton' 1354 Salvin 1382 Hatf

• Carltone 1592 Wills

• Careleton 1522,1524 HC/CBI/2–3

• Carelton 1530 HC/CBI/5

• Charleton 1408 Lang

• Charlton 1675 Ogilby

Etymology

'Settlement, village of the husbandmen', OE  ceorl, genitive pl. ceorlena , + tūn . OE  ceorl has been refashioned in this name under the influence of ON  karl . For genitive pl. -ena instead of -a characteristic of the Northumbrian dialect of OE cf. Brunner §237 A.4.

The place-name type Carlton (southern English Charlton) implies a specialised function within a larger administrative unit (H. P. R. Finberg, 'Charltons and Carltons', Lucerna , London 1964, 144–160). In the Middle Ages Carlton was a member of the Bishop's manor of Stockton (Surtees III317) and its firmars or bondmen (the ceorlas of the p.n.) were required to do boon-work there. This seems to be a relic of an early arrangement whereby the ceorlas of this vill were retained to work in the lord's manor and not alienated to other owners.