Names in ‘-ton’

Names in ‘-ton’

 

Here is a list of all the properties which appear to end in -ton in Renfrewshire. This suffix suggests a name given by Norman settlers or their English and Scottish attendants. The military aristocracy appear to have been very largely Norman-French. But with them came their servants, men-at-arms, farriers, tradesmen, clergymen, monks, clerks and builders who were probably English or Scottish, for the most part.

 

Names of this type usually have a first element which is somebody’s name, followed by a possessive ‘s’, and ending with -ton or –toun, (i.e. so-and-so’s township). There are also many -ton names of the type Milton (mill-toun), Overton (upper or over toun) and Netherton (lower toun). I have omitted these because they may date from later periods as settlements subdivided. I have also left out all examples of Midton, Middleton, Millerton, Kirkton, Chapelton, Newton and Yonderton.

 

Names are given by parish. Following each name is a Grid Reference or Map name such as ‘Pont’ or ‘Roy’ to indicate the source. Documentary sources are given for some names, for instance those that are not mapped at all. See parish tables for further information

 

Some of these names may represent ‘-stone’ or ‘-stane’ rather than ‘-toun’. Two examples are Gladstone and Haddockston. Other possible instances are Pirrieston NS 4460 (Perry Stone in Roy), Gockston (i.e. ‘Gowk’ or cuckoo stone) at NS 4765 and Clovenstone, NS 3361. Current map spellings are not a sure guide to distinguishing between the two types.

 

 

Ingliston

There is a special class of -ton names where the first element is not a personal name like Hugh or Roger or Smith or Croc, but a name identifying nationality, specifically Inglis (or English). We have three examples in Renfrewshire. They are likely to date to the earliest period of Norman colonisation under the first Stewarts in the second half of the twelfth century

 

Barrow (p 8, 2000) has some interesting comments about motte-and-bailey castles:

 

Fortified residences of this type were recognised as an exotic import from England. Had they been brought to Scotland before 1100 the Gaelic adjective saxanach (modern sasunnach) would have been applied to them. In fact, however, they attracted the Middle English adjective ingles or inglis. Thus Ardneil in West Kilbride (North Ayrshire), which had one of these newfangled structures, was called ‘Yngles Ardnel’, while the motte castle at Eassie in Angus was known as ‘Ingliscasteltoun’. More commonly, however, settlements with motte (or motte-and-bailey) castles, distributed widely from Galloway to Inverness, were simply named ‘inglestun’, producing either Ingleston or Ingliston as the modern form.

 

There are a number of Inglistons in Southern Scotland and I do not know if they were all associated with motte-and-bailey castles. However, the Inglistoun at Eassie, mentioned by Barrow, is particularly interesting. It is referred to as ‘Engliscasteltoun’ in RMS I, Appendix 2, p 510, Index A No 16, of the time of Robert I. The matching entry in Index B, No 12, reads ‘ane dauiache of land of Inglistoun, als meikill of Castletown’ (a davach of land of Inglistoun, as much [i.e. another davach] of Castletown). What makes this intriguing is that the land-assessment reckoning in Forfar is in davachs not merklands.

 

There are three Inglistons in Renfrewshire, one east of Paisley, one by Greenock, one in Erskine. But although there are some possible davach place-names in Renfrewshire there is not a single reference in the documentary record. It adds a little substance to the impression that when the great Stewart fee was established in Renfrewshire it was associated, from day one, with the new merkland system of assessment. The Stewarts had no truck with any old-fashioned system of davachs. New settlements went with new assessment arrangements and new terminology. Inglistoun in Forfar wears a different complexion; it represents a closer accommodation to what was there before.

 

The Normans were responsible for huge social changes, not just in England, but also in Scotland. The disruption caused by this class of incoming military adventurers must have been enormous. They set down their castles and fortifications. They brought with them their subordinates and hangers-on. But they did this even in Normandy. Bates gives a couple of examples in his volume of RRAN (The Acta of William I). No 62, of 1066 x 1083, concerns the Abbey of La Trinité, Caen. The text refers to 40 acres ‘in Anglisca villa’, which Bates identifies in his synopsis as Englesqueville-la-Percée. No 158, 1082 x 1083, concerns the Abbey of Notre-Dame, Grestain. The text on p 522 refers to a place called ‘Englescivillam’ which Bates identifies as Anglesqueville-les-Murs. The parallels with Scotland are striking. These are ‘Inglistons’ in France.

 

 

Inverkip Parish

Kingston c. NS 229741 (Roy)

Lunderston NS 2174. The derivation seems to be demonstrated in RMS I (673) 1379 which is a grant to Thomas de Londrys of 16s land which was held by his father, John, in the lordship of Inverkyp. Thomas also got an adjacent piece of land called Haucslande which had an extent of 6s 8d. Haucslande is probably just Hawksland so this western parish was probably English-speaking in 1379.

Holmstown c. NS 2173/2273 (Pont)

Braeton NS 2173. I think this may be modern. Formerly just Brae.

Flatterton NS 2274

Moodiestown in Roy (PC), Moodyston in Ainslie, NS 2273

Majeston NS 2272

Rogertoun – Rogertou in Pont(33), Rogertoun in Blaeu(Renfrew)

Richstoun, Blaeu(Renfrew) WSW of Garvock. Name hard to read in Pont(33) but possibly ‘R: Stou’

Gristoun Blaeu(Renfrew) – unreadable in Pont(33).

Rogerstou – Pont(33), Rocerstoun in Blaeu(Renfrew), Rogerstoun in Gordon(55)

Bogstown Roy(PC) just ENE of Kelly

Branchton NS 2475

Smithston NS 2575 (Roy)

Bownstoun/Bodenstoun, unlocated.

Forrestown (Roy)

 

Greenock Parish

Murdieston NS 2675 Murdestoun in Pont(33), Murdokstoun in Laing Charters (2082) 1631.

Englishto(un) Pont(33) NS 2875, Englishtoun Blaeu(Renfrew), Ingleston Road & Upper Ingleston in OS 6” 1^st edition Renfrewshire Sheet II, 1857.

Thomsontoun, RSS IV (1469) 1551-2.

Bogston, NS 3074 Roy(PC)

Fifestown, Roy(PC & FC), just east of Gibshill which is NS 3074

Greenock Place Names p 14 includes Brachelston amongst the farms round Greenock.

 

Kilmacolm

Cunston NS 3372

Lukeston NS 3266

Youngston NS 3172

Gardenerstoun, Blaeu locates just south of Finlaystoun.

Blackstone c. NS 3472/3473

Leperstone NS 3571

Denniston, NS 3568/3668

Finlaystoun, NS 3673

Turnerstown, Roy locates just S. of Kirk of Killmacolm.

Gibblaston NS 3466/3566

Laidtoune, unlocated, 1676

Lammeistoun, GD112/25/27 1564

Gemmillistoun, GD112/25/27 1564

Smythistoun, GD112/25/27 1564

Lockertistoun, GD112/25/27 1564

 

Erskine

Hilltown (Roy) SW of Undercraig

Hatton or Haltoun NS 4072

Porton NS 4471

Bishopton NS 4271/4371

Ingliston NS 4271

Gladstone, NS 4370 – part of Ingliston. Probably a ‘-stone’ name.

Ritchieston NS 4371 (Roy)

 

Inchinnan

Craigton NS 4470 (Pont)

Schawistoune (on Common) Lennox II No 144 1530

Skilktown Roy(PC) West of Old Barr

 

Renfrew

Scotstoun NS 5267

 

Cathcart

Clarkston NS 5657/5757

Tankertoun, GD3/1/1/74 1562

Bogtoun, RMS II (3118) 1507

Hagtonhill NS 5859 – also Hagthornehill 1506. I don’t think this is a -ton name

 

Eastwood

Carlingston NS 5463 Richardson 1795

Leggatston, formerly Kyleslack NS 5359 Richardson 1795

Murestoun, part of Darnley, 1612

 

 

Mearns

Balgraystone NS 5056 – probably a stone not a ‘toun’

Broomstane, Roy – West of Busby

Fingalton NS 5055

Walton NS 4855

Craigton NS 4955

Roystoon, Roy – East of Malletsheugh

Langton NS 5054 Pont

 

Eaglesham parish

Bonnyton NS 5553 (Pont)

 

Houstoun

Bogston NS 4066

Swanieston NS 4068

Elphinstone NS 374697, Roy

Muirton NS 384699, Roy

Houstoun NS 4066

Yetston NS 3970, Roy, Yeatstone in Robertson(1818) p 380. RSS VIII (1816) 1583-4 has a John Yettis in Erskine parish.

Fodston NS 3766 (Monfadstoun in Blaeu)

Henristoun, 1446 Lennox II No 48

Willangistoun RMS II (969) 1468

Wilewinstoun RMS II (969) 1468

Bullokistoun RMS II (969) 1468

Mashington NS 3968 (Pont) – Patrick Maschen in RMS III (2742) 1542

Haddokstane, RMS II (568) 1452 – probably a name in ‘-stone’

 

Kilbarchan parish

Johnstone NS 4163

Fulton NS 4625

Damptoune NS 3862/3863

Bootstoune c.NS 420647. See also in table of Paisley parish.

Craigstoun (Roy – west of Auchenames)

Blackston NS 4566

Hatoune, listed in the Poll Tax Roll of 1695 as part of Ramphorlie.

Priestoune NS 3865

Waterstone NS 4064 (originally Walter’s toun)

Robstown, Roy (N of Auchenames)

Kibbleston NS 3961

Gladstone NS 3962 – A ‘stone’ rather than a ‘toun’?

Whinnerston NS 3864

‘the maling callit Henry Wallacetoun’ in RSS VII (2634) 1580

Abyrnythyston – GD148/125 1533

Brouston – GD148/125 1533

Sympylston – GD148/125 1533

Darrochston – GD148/125 1533

The last 4 are good examples of how temporary such ‘ton’ names could be. There are one or two other references to Abyrnythyston but generally there is little evidence for them before or after. The township names probably just reflect the names of the current tenants.

 

 

Neilston parish

Jaapston NS 4555/4556, Ainslie

Pattiston NS 4556, Ainslie

Neilston c. NS 4857

Glanderston NS 5056

Spierston NS 4956/4957 Roy

Cowanstoun, Cowanstoun in Semple Rental 1644; ‘Cowen stone’ (Roy).

Boyleston NS 4959

Littletown, Roy

Murdochstown, Roy – West of Kirkton

Bee(?)ystown, Roy – S of Dubbs

 

Lochwinnoch

Mitchelstone, NS 3661/3761

Cowanstone, NS 3660/3661

Elliestone, NS 3960

Peockstone, Roy NS 3560

Spreulston, Roy NS 3955

Boydstone, Roy NS 3655

Wattieston, Roy NS 3757

Narvelston, NS 3256/3356 Pont

Clovenstone, NS 3361 Roy

Sandiestone, NS 3561 Roy

Horsington, Semple Rental 1644, Pont

Cassilton, RMS II (2882) 1505

Gockstone OSA p 69

Flemyngston, Semple rental 1644, Pont

Petterstoune, Poll-Tax 1695 p 189

 

Paisley parish

Sp(e)ntstown, Roy – south of Cochrane Castle

Craigston Wood NS 4361

Logonstown, Roy – just east of Stanely castle

Gillmostown, Roy – NE of Linwood, East bank of River Cart

Auldton NS 5063

Ingliston NS 5163

Ralston NS 5063

Quarrelton NS 4262

Benston NS 4161

Dartoun – associated with Cartside in Earl of Dundonald (22) 1565

Hillington NS 5264

Arkleston NS 5065

Henderstoun NS 5263/5363

Crookston NS 5262

Gockston NS 4765 – A ‘stone’ rather than a ‘toun’?