The village was originally known just as Charlton, meaning "the farmers settlement" and then known as Charlton Kanville by 1225.
In 1084 Horethorn was added coming from "Hareturna" meaning "grey thornbush".
The parish was part of the hundred of Horethorne.

Evidence of early human occupation of the parish is provided by three Bronze-Age barrows and a possible Iron-Age camp on the escarpment near Sigwells, an area to the west of the village where Mesolithic and Romano-British material has also been found.
Around 950 the manor belonged to Wynflaed (d. c. 950), and may have passed to her daughter Aethelflaed.
It was held by Vitel in 1066 and, by the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, by Robert son of Gerold (d. 1102), who paid an annual rent of 100 cheeses.
In 1439 it was bought by Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester, who gave the manor to the Hospital of St Cross, Winchester in 1445.

The Manor Farm House in Horse Lane was built as the local manor house in 1608.

RNAS Charlton Horethorne (HMS Heron II) was a Royal Naval Air Service station in nearby Sigwells.
It opened in 1942 as a flying training base under the administrative care of HMS Heron.
It closed in 1948 and has since been returned to agricultural use.
The village was originally known just as Charlton, meaning "the farmers settlement" and then known as Charlton Kanville by 1225. In 1084 Horethorn was added coming from "Hareturna" meaning "grey thornbush". The parish was part of the hundred of Horethorne.
Evidence of early human occupation of the parish is provided by three Bronze-Age barrows and a possible Iron-Age camp on the escarpment near Sigwells, an area to the west of the village where Mesolithic and Romano-British material has also been found. Around 950 the manor belonged to Wynflaed (d. c. 950), and may have passed to her daughter Aethelflaed. It was held by Vitel in 1066 and, by the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, by Robert son of Gerold (d. 1102), who paid an annual rent of 100 cheeses. In 1439 it was bought by Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester, who gave the manor to the Hospital of St Cross, Winchester in 1445.
The Manor Farm House in Horse Lane was built as the local manor house in 1608.
RNAS Charlton Horethorne (HMS Heron II) was a Royal Naval Air Service station in nearby Sigwells. It opened in 1942 as a flying training base under the administrative care of HMS Heron. It closed in 1948 and has since been returned to agricultural use.
Charlton Horethorne