Everton

Everton (L3 L5 L6), is an inner city located north of Liverpool city centre and is Liverpool’s highest point which once served as an ideal location for farming, hunting and trapping.

Everton is an ancient settlement which, like Liverpool, was one of the six unnamed berewicks of West Derby. The district name Everton evolved from the Saxon word ‘eofor’[1]meaning wild boar that lives in forests which fit aptly with its location.

The word Everton can also be broken down further in terms of West Germanic derivation elements from Old English: ‘eofor’ meaning a wild boar and ‘tun’ which is a farmstead, village or estate[2].
This added suffix ‘ton’ is typical of the Old English period and Anglo-Saxon influence[3], with many districts within Merseyside illustrating similarities such as: Prenton, Bebington, Huyton and Garston.

Everton was declared independent in the early 17th century, whereas before it was under control by West Derby at the conquest. The area was sold off for cattle-grazing rights and after was incorporated into Liverpool in 1835[4].

Researched by Olivia Astley

[1]Oxford English Dictionary (2018) [online] https://public.oed.com/blog/old-english-an-overview/ [accessed 25/11/18].

[2]HALOGEN (2018) https://halogen.le.ac.uk/query/kepn[accessed 18/11/18].

[3]Hogg, R.(2002) An Introduction to Old English. London: Wiley.

[4]Museum of Liverpool (2011)Liverpool Historic Settlement Study.[online] https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/archaeology/historic-characterisation-project/Liverpool-Part-6.pdf [accessed 18/11/18].