Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Caltorn(e) 1086 DB 1122,1155 Pont 1142–86 RegAlbi,71 1180–5 YChviii 1194 P

• Calturn' 1173 YCh197

• Calthorn(a), Calthorn (e) 1090 Pont 1120–30 YCh 1148 1154 Pont Hy2 Ch 1230 YCh 1190–1231 YDix 13 1254 Ch 1279 YDix 1486

• Caldorn 1156 YCh186

• Calethorn 1246 Ass4

• Cawlthorne 1426 Ramsd 1561 FF

• Cawthorn(e) 1546 Hall 1556,1593 FF 1641 Rates

• Cawthawrne 1557 WillY

• Cawthron 1647 YDr

Etymology

This has probably the same origin as Cawthorn YN 78, 'cold, exposed thorn-tree', v. cald , þorn , which is indicated by the spelling Caldorn . Although the single Cale - spelling might support Ekwall's proposal to derive the name from OE  calu 'bare', we should normally expect that el. to produce ME  calwe . On the later spellings Caw (l )- cf. Phonol. § 6.