It is a common English toponym for places that were on a hillside, where a sledge rather than a cart was needed for heavy loads.

[3] In the reign of Edward the Confessor in the 11th century, Lewin de Nuneham held a manor of two hides and one virgate at Drayton.

[3] The Domesday Book records that by 1086 William I's half-brother Odo, Bishop of Bayeux held the fief of this manor.

[3] However, Odo was tried for fraud in 1076 and disgraced again in 1082 for acting without Royal authority, and his extensive estates were eventually escheated to the Crown.

[4] In 1863 the church was restored and the chancel was extended about 6 feet (2 m) eastwards, re-using the Perpendicular east window in the new position.

[7] John Taylor & Co of Loughborough, who at the time also had a foundry at Oxford, cast the treble and second bell in 1842.

[7] Holy Trinity has also a Sanctus bell that was cast in 1669 by Anthony Chandler, who worked at his family's bell-foundry in the village (see below).

[7] Holy Trinity parish is now part of the Benefice of Newton Longville, Mursley, Swanbourne, Little Horwood and Drayton Parslow.

[10] Holy Trinity Church has been Grade II* listed (Entry Number: 1289256) since 19 August 1959.

[3] In 1912 it was replaced with a new Gothic Revival red brick chapel, and in 1932 it became part of the Methodist Union.

[12] Drayton's Methodist congregation declined in the 1960s and 70s, and in 1984 the chapel was sold and converted into a private house.

[16] According to Historic England, the village was also a World War II outstation to the Government Code and Cipher School at Bletchley Park; some of the work was moved here in 1943 when the group needed more space.

[22] In 2004, part of the village was declared a Conservation Area "of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance".