Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Cherlentonæ s.a.1081 Ord 1131

• Cheletona c.1055 Rams 13

• Carlintone 1086 DB

• Carlentona 1190×1204 France

• Carletone 1086 DB

• Carleton' c.1130 LeicSurv 1220 MHW 1439 ShR 1443 Pat 1576 Saxton 1627 LML

• Carletone l.12 GarCart

• Karletona a.1219 RHug c.1250 Rut

• Karletun' c.1220 Hazlerigg

• Karletone 1234 RHug

• Karleton' 1240 RGros 1245 Cl 1280 Coram 1337 Rut

• Kar(r)elton' e.13(p),l.13 Wyg

• Karlton' l.13 ib

• Carlton 1351 Wyg 1362 Ipm 1576 LEpis 1604 SR

• ~ Curly(e) 1272,1273 Cur 1457 Wyg 1537 CoPleas

• ~ Kurley 1426 Banco

• ~ Kirle 1533×38 ECP

• ~ Curlu 1351 Pat 1439 ShR 1519 EpCB

• ~ Corleue 1410 Wyg

• ~ Curluy 1484 Cl

• ~ Curlew(e) 1483 ShR 1506 Banco 1576 LEpis 1604 SR

• ~ Kirlewe 1627 LML

• Willielmus de Curly in 1253 Cur

• Robertus de Curly in 1271 ib

• John Curly 1327 Banco

• John Corlu 1347 Pat

Etymology

The name Carlton is a Scandinavianized form of OE  *Ceorlenatūn 'the farmstead, village of the free peasants', v. ceorl (ceorla , ceorlena gen.pl.), karl (karla gen.pl.), tūn . The manor was held by Willielmus de Curly in 1253 Cur, by Robertus de Curly in 1271 ib and remained with this family (which may originally have come from Cully in Normandy) as late as John Curly 1327 Banco, John Corlu 1347 Pat. The feudal affix appears to have been attracted later to the name of the moorland bird, the curlew (recorded as curlu a.1340, corlue 1377 OED).