Downton
Downton, Milford-on-Seacounty:
coords:
Hampshire
SZ2693
otherwise: Dunchinton, 1164; Doneketon; Duneketon, 1200; Doncketon, 1280
DOWNTON, hamlet in Hordle
Most likely 'Dunneca's farm', and the more so if the form of 1164 can be seen as for hypothetical 'Dunnecingtun'. Otherwise hypothetical Old English 'Dunnocatun'='farm of hedge sparrows'. The modern form (1691 'Downton') seems to have been influenced by Downton in Wiltshire, diametrically across the New Forest. 'Estdonketon' (about 1200) may testify to this, though 'South' would have been less surprising.
