Toponym and Early History
The toponym is believed to come from a ruler called Hook, whilst Norton is a development of ora-tun meaning a settlement (tun) on the side of a hill (ora), hence Hook Norton. In the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in AD 922 the village is called Hocnertune. In the Domesday Book of 1086 it is called Hochenartone. Other historical spellings of the name include Hocceneretune (1050), Hogenarton (1216) and Okenardton (1263).
Today the village is colloquially known to its inhabitants as "Hooky" and sometimes as "The Hook". The village is formed of four neighbourhoods: East End, Scotland End (in the west), Down End (in the centre) and Southrop (in the south).
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that a Viking army raided the Hook Norton area in AD 913 and the village had a parish church by AD 922. The Domesday Book records that in 1086 Hook Norton had 76 villagers and two mills.
Read more about this topic: Hook Norton
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