Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Hetun, Heton(e) 1086 DB 1254 YI 1351 YDxii,255 1362 YDx 1402 FA 1413 BM

• Claketon 1285 KI

• Clakheton 1299 Baild 1317 Ch 1348 BM 1581 WillY

• Clakheaton 1466 Testii

• Clakeheton 1433 Pat, YD x

• Heton Clack 1303 KF

• Heton Cleck 1316 Vill

• Hetonclak 1355 YDxii,256 1376 Thn 1571 Arm

• Hetonclake 1483 BM

• Heaton clak 1575 WillY

• Heaton Clacke 1597 SessnR

• Hetone Clakes 1379 BM

• Clarkheton 1403 BM 1435 YDvii

• Clerkheton 1436 ib

• Clackeheton 1542 Testvi

• Clackheaton 1605,1615 FF 1641 Rates 1682 Arm

Etymology

'High farmstead', v. hēah , tūn . The affix Cleck - (at one stage mistaken for Clerk -) is almost invariably Cla (c )k , and is without doubt from OE  clacc 'a hillock, a peak' or the related ON  klakkr 'a lump, a hill'; it refers to the round peaked hill above Cleckheaton.