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.

Charleston

Early-attested site in the Parish of West Firle

Historical Forms

  • Cerlocestone 1086 DB
  • Cherlakeston(e) 1107–23 Add 1230 FF
  • Cherlakestune 1200–10 BM
  • Cherlekeston t.Rici Add
  • Chirlacestone
  • Charlaxton 1307 Misc 1401 FA
  • Chirlakestone c.1190 ADA15436
  • Charlokeston 1235 FF 1399 SRS8,103 1413 Cicestr
  • Charlacton 1316 Ipm
  • Charleston al. Charleton 1558 Add
  • Challston al. Charleston 1614 FM

Etymology

It is difficult to derive this name from OE  cerlic , *cearloc , 'charlock,' owing to the persistent genitival form of the first element. Ceorl is well-recognised as a pers. name in OE ; possibly there was also a compound Ceorl -lāc . Förstemann (PN 359) gives two or three compounds of OGer  Carl -.