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.

Elkington

Major Settlement in the Parish of Elkington

Historical Forms

  • Eltetone 1086 DB
  • Heltedune 1200 Cur
  • Eltedon 1247 Ass
  • Heldendun c.1160 ADB8540
  • Eltindon(e) 1184 BM 1219 Bracton 1247 Ass 1283 Ch
  • Eltendon c.1190 PipewellA t.Hy3 ADii 1235 Ch 1240 Ass
  • Eltenden 1275 RH
  • Eltesdon 12th Survey 1240 Ass
  • Eltyngdoun 1394 Cl
  • Eltington oth. Eltingdon 1656 FF
  • Eltington al. Elkington 1617,1767 Recov
  • Eltington 1791 Bridges

Etymology

This is a difficult name. The second element is clearly dun.Ekwall takes the first element here, and probably also in Eltham (K), to be a pers. name *Elta , of which we have a strong form in Eltisley (C) and, it may be added, in one or two of the forms noted here. It is clear that Elkington can have no connection with OE  ielfet , 'swan,' which Wallenberg (KPN 361) would take to be the first element of Eltham, neither can Eltisley. Hence, probably, 'Elta 's hill,' v. dun , ing . Interchange of k and t is fairly common, cf. EDG 283.

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site