Slawston
Major Settlement in the Parish of Slawston
Historical Forms
- Slagestone 1086 DB
- Slagestuna 12 BelCartB e.15
- Slaghstuna Hy1 Ch 1333 BelCartA Hy2 BelCartB e.14 Hy2 e.15
- Schlaghestunia e.12 e.15 ib
- Slachestone 1086 DB
- Slaueston' c.1130 LeicSurv c.1250 Laz 1404 Ipm 1308 Cl 1309
- Slauston' c.1130 LeicSurv e.13 Peake 1220 MHW 1507 Ipm 1510 Visit 1585 LEpis 1610 Speed
- Slaustona e.13 Peake
- Slaustone 1274(1579),1276(1579) LRoll
- Slastone 1225 RHug l.13 Peake
- Slaston' 1226 Cur 1395 SlCart 16 Peake 1447
- Slaweston' 1238 RGros 1242 Fees 1304(16),1306(16) SlCart 1471 Hazlerigg 1473 Peake 1514 CoPleas 1528 Visit
- Schlawestone 1232 RHug
- Sclawiston' a.1250 Laz 1404
- Sclauston' 1359 Wyg 1468,1493 Pat
- Slawston 1336,1338 Peake 1501 Wyg 1511 Ipm
- Slawson 1550,1551 Peake 1585 LEpis
Etymology
Probably 'Slagr's village, estate', v. tūn . The ON masc. pers.n. Slagr appears to be an original early by-name, either from slægr 'sly, cunning' or, less likely, from slagr 'a blow, a stroke'. Slawston may well be a former Anglo-Saxon settlement appropriated by a Scandinavian from the Viking army which disbanded in the region in 877 rather than a later manorial creation. It is close to Blaston, a township probably with another such OE Scand hybrid name which could represent similar appropriation.
Note the typical 16th- and 17th-cent. Leics. loss of t from the group -ston in the form Slawson .