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.

Muston

Major Settlement in the Parish of Bottesford

Historical Forms

  • Moston' c.1130 LeicSurv e.Hy3,1260,1270 Rut 1343 Cl 1363 Ipm
  • Mostona e.13 Rut
  • Mostone 1271 ib
  • Mostun' 1260,Edw1 ib
  • Moseton' Hy3 ib
  • Mosston' 1325 ib
  • Mustun Hy1 Ch 1333 BelCartB Hy2 Rut e.15 l.12 Hy3(freq),Edw1 et passim
  • Mustuna Hy1 Ch 1333 BelCartB Hy2(e.15),12(e.15) BelCartA Edw1
  • Muston(') 1191,1192 P e.Hy3 Rut
  • Muston(') iuxta Belvere 1302 Ass
  • Muston(') iuxta Botel(s)ford 1381,1389 Rut
  • Muston(') in the Vale of Beauer 1449 WoCart
  • Mustona e.13,e.Hy3 Rut Edw1 et passim
  • Mustonia Hy3 ib
  • Mustone 1232 RHug Hy3 Rut 1306 ib
  • Musthon' 1313 ib
  • Mouston' l.13,1317bis,1343 Rut
  • Mousston' 1333,1343 ib
  • Moustoun 1317 ib
  • Musson 1604 SR 1610 Speed 1612 Rut 1613,1719 LML

Etymology

'The farmstead, village infested with mice', v. mūs , tūn . The settlement lies in the Vale of Belvoir, hence ~ in le Vale of Beauer 1449, v. val . The 17th- and 18th-cent. forms show the period's characteristic Leics. loss of t in the group -ston , a feature still preserved in local pronunciation of the name.