Uttoxeter's name has been spelt at least 79 ways since it appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Wotocheshede":[3] it probably came from Anglo-Saxon Wuttuceshǣddre, meaning "Wuttuc's homestead on the heath".

Some historians have pointed to pre-Roman settlement here; axes from the Bronze Age discovered in the town are now on display in the Potteries Museum in Stoke-on-Trent.

[4] The remains of the brewery were demolished in the 1960s to make way for the Maltings shopping precinct and car park.

The firm, based in the nearby village of Rocester, is the world's third-largest construction equipment manufacturer.

[15] The firm's first vehicle was a tipping trailer made from war-surplus materials, which J. C. Bamford built in a rented lock-up garage in Uttoxeter.

JCB has other factories in Uttoxeter, Cheadle, Foston and Wrexham, and abroad in the United States and India.

Uttoxeter Racecourse, home to the Midlands Grand National, brings visitors to the town centre shops and markets.

Uttoxeter previously housed a large dairy and was historically a major trader in butter and cheese.

[16] A new cattle market was due to be built in the town after the old one was demolished in 2004, having stood dormant since the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak.

No progress was made and it is now unlikely after ten years that the town will regain one,[17] the land now having been redeveloped into a pedestrianised shopping area, composed of an Asda store, GP surgery and retail outlets.

In 2005 an entertainment development with a bowling alley, an ice rink, a cinema, a children's crèche, a fitness centre and business units was built.

[19] The old Cattle Market closed in November 2005 in favour of a retail and housing development, Carter Square, opening in 2014.

The replacement cattle market, granted planning permission on the outskirts of the town, failed to appear after several years.

[21] In 2019, the Uttoxeter Brewing Company began licensed operations in a purpose built property sharing the car park of the White Hart Hotel in the town centre, the first commercial brewing operations in the town since the closure of Bunting's Brewery in 1929.

It is served by trains on the Crewe-Derby Line, which generally operate hourly each way between Crewe and Newark Castle.

There is no ambulance station, but a team of Rapid Response Paramedics is based here and supported by volunteer Community first responders.

Three miles north-west of Uttoxeter are the remains of Croxden Abbey, founded in 1176 by Bertram de Verdun for monks of the Cistercian Order.

Bramshall Road Park is the town's recreation ground, with offers tennis courts, skate park, basketball court, football pitch, bowling green and two children's play areas, as well as floral arrangements and the Picknall Brook nature reserve, which can be followed through to the River Dove.

Uttoxeter lies within the BBC West Midlands and ITV Central both broadcast from the Sutton Coldfield transmitting station.

Each year, Uttoxeter Lions run a beer festival in June, "Lark in the Park", at Bramshall Road Park on August bank holiday and on Bonfire and Fireworks Night in November, and an annual Christmas fair and market known as "Cracker Night".

In one episode, two obnoxious business entrepreneurs who run various companies in Uttoxeter throughout the series develop grand plans for a popular sports centre.

Oldfields Hall Middle School featured in the film A Room for Romeo Brass, written and directed by Shane Meadows and Paul Fraser, two Uxonians who have risen to fame.

Uttoxeter is the home of Rockin' Johnny Austin MBE, recognised for his charity work and rock and roll songs such as Rockabilly Stroll, a minor hit in the 1980s.

He also produced in 2010 a World Cup Single, Victory Day, which was filmed on location in Uttoxeter Market Place.

The original church, only the tower of which remains was designed by renowned architect Thomas Yevele who may have lived in the town.

Uttoxeter is the home town of Olympic gold medal-winning swimming star Adam Peaty, world record holder for the 50m and 100m breast stroke.

In January 2015 he opened the redeveloped Uttoxeter Leisure Centre, which now houses the Adam Peaty swimming pool.

Uttoxeter Racecourse, a short walk from the town centre, is home to the annual Midlands Grand National horse race.

Uttoxeter Leisure Centre in Oldfields Road has a swimming pool, gym and sports hall.

It regularly shoots on the 30-yard outdoor cadet range at Denstone College and at longer-range facilities at Catton Park and Diggle.