Somerton was first documented in the Domesday Book, and was known at that time as 'Summertune'. The name is derived from the Old English for 'the farmstead used in summer'. A manor was recorded at Somerton as belonging to Alfred of Lincoln, and the assessment also included land at Boothby Graffoe. There was a minimum population there at that time of about 10. By 1334, Somerton was no longer separately assessed, and the name does not appear in population assessments. It seems that the castle was built on the site of the manor. {1}{2}{3}{4}{5}