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.

Nuneaton

Major Settlement in the Parish of Nuneaton

Historical Forms

  • Etone 1086 DB 1376 ADi
  • Ethon 1233 Cl 1233–9 Ch
  • Eatona 1155–9 France c.1160 Dane 1238 Bracton
  • Etton 1187 P 1195 Cur 1221 Ass
  • Eyton 1237 Cl
  • Nonne Eton 1247 CartMisc
  • Nonnetone 1318 ADv
  • Noneton 1323 Ipm
  • Noneaton 1492 ib
  • Noneyton 1548 FF
  • Nunne Eton(e) 1272 FF 1296 Pat 1309 ADii
  • Nune Eton 1284 Pat
  • Nonne Eton 1556 Recov
  • Eton Monialium 1393 Pat
  • Constables Eyton 1548 FF
  • Eton al. Nune Eton 1566 FF
  • Nunyeton 1578 Cai
  • Eaton al. Noneaton 1605 FF
  • Nonneat on al. Nuns Eaton 1654 ib
  • Constable in 1540 (LP)

Etymology

'Farm by the stream,' v. ea , tun and cf. Eton (PN Bk 250).“This place hath its name from the Rivulet nigh which it stands, Ea in our old English signifying Water ” (Dugdale 766). The town lies by the Anker. The later prefix is due to the Benedictine Nunnery founded here t. Stephen (ib.). The manor was granted to Sir Marmaduke Constable in 1540 (LP).