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.

Dilton

Major Settlement in the Parish of Dilton

Historical Forms

  • Dulinton 1190 P
  • Dultun' 1221 FineR 1265 Ipm
  • Dulton 1236,1242 Fees 1249 Ass 1553 WMx
  • Dolton 1250 Fees 1281,1289 Ass
  • Dilton 1516 Recov
  • Dylton 1535 VE
  • Dulton al. Dylton 1566 FF
  • Dylton al. Dulton 1587 ib
  • Delton 1666 SR

Etymology

The complete absence of any spellings with i before the 16th century, as well as the fact that no forms, except the first, show any sign of an inflectional syllable (e or ing ), make Ekwall's derivation (DEPN s. n .) from OE  Dylla improbable. It is more likely that the later i has developed from OE and ME u (v. Introd. xx) but no suggestion as to the etymology can be offered.