Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Saxtun(a), Saxton(a) 1086 DB 12 Kirkst 1121–7 YCh 1154–86 1174–9 Ch 1327 YCh359 1175 Nost4 1189 LeonN5 1199 1200 FF 1207 ChR 1215 Pat 1225 FF 1593

• Saxton(a) in Elmet 1353 FF

• Saxton(a) in Helmett 1517 TestLds

• Sextun, Sexton(a) Hy2 Ch 1294 YCh 1165–75 1173 Pat 1446

• Sea[x]tun 1156 YCh186

• Sestona 1160–80 YCh1609

• Seixtona 1182–5 YCh199

Etymology

Possibly 'the Saxons' village', v. Seaxe (here probably in the stem-form Seax -), tūn . On this type of name cf. Ekwall NoB xli, 135 ff; cf. Saxon Street C 127, Saxondale Nt 241 for similar names of isolated Saxon settlements. But a pers.n. is more likely; ON  Saxi is well-evidenced (v. Feilitzen 352 and cf. terra Sacsi ii, 210 supra ); other p.ns. in tūn in the district (Grimston 68, Towton 72, etc.) have ON  pers.ns. Not far from Saxton was the unidentified DB manor of Saxhall (76 infra ), which is probably connected in origin with Saxton. On the affix v. Elmet 1supra .