 Shortly after the Norman conquest of England , between 1069 and 1070 , William the Conqueror led a military campaign against the Saxon Earl Edwin , who ruled England north of the River Mersey . On the campaign 's successful conclusion , William gave his kinsman Roger de Poictou all of the land between the River Mersey and the River Ribble . Part of this land was in turn given to Albert de <unk> , who towards the end of the 12th century , bestowed as much land as a team of oxen could plough in one @-@ year on Orme Fitz Seward , the son of Edward Aylward . It is probable that the name Urmston is derived from Orme 's Easton , or <unk> , the " tun " or dwelling of Orme Fitz Seward . 
