Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Sanctone 1086 DB 1535 VEiv 1576 Saxton 1607 Camden 1610 Speed

• Santone 1086 DB

• Santuna c1115 LS

• Santun a1175 Goke 1212 Fees

• Santon' 1176 P 1196 ChancR 1197 P 1202 FF 1206 Ass 1206 Cur c1263 RAii

• Santon 1246 Ipm 1275 RH 1295 Ass 1312 Ch 1318 Fine 1319 Orig 1322 Ipm 1332 Cl

• Saunton' 1242–43 Fees 1298 Ass 1314 Selby 1332 SR

• Saunton 1279 Ch 1288 Cl 1292 Ipm 1298 1404 Yarb

• Sauntone 1272 Ass

• Sandton 1280 Pat

• Saundton 1296 Ipm

• Sampton 1276 RH 1346 Orig 1346 Pat

• Saynton' 1508 Yarb

• Sainton 1612 WillsStow

• Seynton 1549 Pat

• “Great” Santon 1564 Pat

• Upper Santon 1606 Terrier 1649 Yarb 1831 Terrier

• High Santon 1810 Yarb 1824 O 1828 Bry

• East Santon otherwise Upper Santon 1833 EnclA

• South Santon 1686 Terrier

• Nether Santon 1592–86 WillsStow 1649 Yarb

• Neither Santon 1606 Terrier

• Low Santon 1707,1745 1824 O 1828 Bry

Etymology

The farmstead village on sandy ground', v. sand , tūn . This is identical with Sancton, PN YE 227, where forms in -ct - are recorded from the 12th century and persist to the present day. They have been explained as due to popular association with OE , ME  sanct, ME  saint, though this does not sound altogether convincing. Whatever the explanation they are hardly to be taken into consideration from an etymological point of view. Spellings in -au -, found from the 13th to 15th centuries here, persist in Saunton, PN D 33, also identical with Santon. They are due to Norman influence and may be compared with Staunton by the side of the common Stanton. The name is now also distinguished as High Santon and Low Santon.