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.

Offerton Fm

Early-attested site in the Parish of Hindlip

Historical Forms

  • Alhðretune 978 KCD618 11th
  • Alðryðetune c.1040 Hickesii.299 18th
  • Alcrintun 1086 DB 1275 SR
  • Alcrinton(a), Alcrynton c.1086 EveA&B 1190 RBB 1182 For 18th Ipm 1280 1288
  • Alchrinton c.1200 WoC c.1250
  • Alreton in Hindelep 1232 Ch
  • Alcretun c.1235 Wulst
  • Alfverton 1275 SR
  • Alcrentone 1280 For
  • Alfreton 1535 VE 1546 Wills
  • Auferton 1559 Wills

Etymology

OE  Ealhðrȳðe -tūn , 'farm of a woman called Ealhthryth ,' with an alternative form in which the two elements were linked together by ing, v. ingtun . The final development of the Alf -, Auf - forms is not easy to explain. Were there earlier pronunciations in which the spirant h (= χ ) in Alh - had become f or was the development a sheer accident? The SR form is in favour of the former suggestion. Note also the history of Alfrick supra 28, where we have further evidence for an early f from h .

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Major Settlement