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.

Merton

Major Settlement in the Parish of Merton

Historical Forms

  • Meretone 1086 DB
  • Mereton' 1199 Ch
  • Mereton 1390 Eynsh
  • Meritona 1123–48 Eynsh 1406 Eynsh
  • Mertone Temple, Merytone Bokkele 1285 Ass
  • Merton 1316 FA
  • Merten 1517 DInc

Etymology

'tūnby a pool,' v. mere . The 6″ map shows a small pool near Manor Fm. Mertone Temple from the Knights Templars, cf. Cowley (28) and Templars cxix, “Where Stephen and his queen had led the way, their faithful adherent, Simon de St Liz, earl of Northampton, might well follow. Not long before his death in August 1153 he gave the Templars seven hides of land at Merton.”

Places in the same Parish