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.

Chesterton

Early-attested site in the Parish of Cirencester

Historical Forms

  • Cesterton(e) 1086,1139–48 Glouc 1274 Ipm
  • Cesterton(e) Bardolfi 13 Glouc
  • Cestrentone 12 Glouc
  • Cestreton(a) 1138,1154–89 Glouc 1220 Fees 1221 Eyre 1274 Cl 1287 Ass
  • Chesterton(e) 1327 SR 1332 CirenD12d c.1560 Surv

Etymology

'Farmstead belonging to or near to the town (of Cirencester)', v. ceaster , tūn ; this interpretation is the most acceptable one as Chesterton itself was not the site of a ceaster ; it lies on the southern outskirts of Cirencester (60supra ); a similar use of ceaster appears in the lost names Cestreford and Chesterhemefeld (67 infra ).