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.

Cropton

Major Settlement in the Parish of Middleton

Historical Forms

  • Croptun(e) 1086 DB 1167 P
  • Cropton(a) c.1200 For
  • Cropetun c.1260 Malton
  • Croppeton 1260 Ch

Etymology

Cropton is near the summit of a hill, and probably the meaning of the name is 'hill-top farm.' The earliest spellings of the name do not suggest any connexion with Cropthorne (Wo), which contains the OE  pers. name *Croppa , found also- in OE  Croppanhulle BCS 112 now Crapnell (Ha). We should rather compare it with Crofton in Orpington (K), OE  Croptunes gemæro KCD iii. 465, which stands on a well-marked hill, and Cropwell (Nt), Crophille 1086 DB. v. tun .