Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Bertone 1086 DB

• Burgtun' 1164–81 YChviii

• Birtun, Byrtun, Byrton(a) 1091–7to1210 YChviii 13 1208 FF 1229 Ebor 1275–1330 WCR 1280–1302 Ebor 1297 LS 1314 YDiii 1457 DodsN

• Kirk(e) Byrton(a), Kyrk(e) Byrton(a) 1517 1546 YChant 1557 WillY

• Birtton 1236–58 YDix,394

• Birtoun 1330 WCR

• Burton(e) 1147,1180–1202 YChviii

• Kirk(e) Burton(e), Kyrk(e) Burton(e) 1535 VE 1552 WillY 1558 Wheat 1580,1605 FF

• Burton(e) Ecclesia 1641 Rates

Etymology

'Farmstead near or belonging to a fortification', v. byrh-tūn (in which byrh is the gen.sg. of burh ); the early Burg -, Burton spellings show some confusion with the more common burh-tūn. The church of Birton is first mentioned in 1147 YCh viii and frequently thereafter (v. kirkja ).