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.

Cawthorn

Major Settlement in the Parish of Middleton

Historical Forms

  • Caltorn(e), Carltorna 1086 DB c.1200 For
  • Calthorn(e) 1175 P c.1190 Guis 1572 FF
  • Kaldthorn 1202 FF
  • Cawlthorne 1561 FF
  • Cawthorne 1571 FF

Etymology

'Cold thorn' v. cald , þorn . OE  cald is coupled with a tree- name in Chold Ash (D). Cawthorne (YWR), for which Moorman suggests OE  calu , is probably identical with this name. OE  calu 'bare' would however give ME  Caluethorn from the dat. calwe .