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.

Upton

Early-attested site in the Parish of West Ham

Historical Forms

  • Hupinton 1203 FF
  • Hopton 1290 Ass
  • Upto(u)n 1485,1496 BM 1503 FF 1504 Pat
  • Upto(u)n Crosse t.Hy8 MinAcct 1523 SR

Etymology

Upton is Hupinton 1203 FF, Hopton 1290Ass , Upto (u )n 1485, 1496 BM, 1503FF , 1504 Pat, Upto (u )n Crosse t. Hy 8MinAcct , 1523SR . (æt þǣm ) uppan tūne , 'at the high-lying tun,' if the first form is correctly identified. Otherwise one of the numerous Uptons from upp(e). The place is not particularly high, but slight rises are noticeable in the marshes near the Thames.