It normally derives from Old English horu 'dirt' and tūn 'settlement, farm, estate', presumably meaning 'farm on muddy soil', but the historical forms of this Horton vary, including the Domesday Horedone, Hortune from 1167, and the 1291 form Heorton, the latter of which could point to Old English heort 'stag'.

[4] Horton Court is a manor house, now in the ownership of the National Trust and is a Grade I listed building.

The oldest part of the house was built as a rectory by Robert de Beaufeu, who was rector of Horton and prebendary of Salisbury.

The Norman doorways and windows have rounded arches and the roof is arch-braced and dates to the fourteenth century.

The rest of the house was built in 1521 for Willian Knight, who was later the Bishop of Bath and Wells.