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.

Nether Poppleton

Major Settlement in the Parish of Nether Poppleton

Historical Forms

  • Popeltune c.972 BCS1278 11
  • Popelton 1190 P 1198–1213 RegAlbiii,3d 1241,1260 FF 1317 Pat
  • Popleton(e), Popletuna 1086 DB 1165–74 RegAlbiii,60d
  • Popletuna Inferior 1316 Vill
  • Neder Popletuna 1535 VE
  • Nether Popletuna 1538,1605 FF
  • Poplinton' 1167 P
  • Alhalughpopilton 13 MaryYii,9d
  • Popilton, Popylton 1258 MaryYii,4 1285 KI 1304 YI 1390 Fabr 1409 DiocV
  • Populton 1396 YDii
  • Neither Poppleton 1590 WillY
  • Poppleton Nether or Water 1822 Langd
  • Alhalgh 1301 YI

Etymology

The first el. is probably on topographical grounds OE  popel in the sense 'pebble', rather than 'bubbling spring' (cf. Popplewell iii, 17supra ). It would denote 'a farmstead on pebbly soil or by a pebble- bank'. It is called 'Nether' (v. neoðera ) from its low-lying situation on the bank of the R. Ouse (hence also 'Water') in relation to Upper Poppleton infra ; Alhalugh - from the dedication of the church to All Saints (Alhalgh 1301 YI). Cf. also Poppleton v, 203infra .