The modern village of Oxenhope encompasses what were originally the separate settlements of Uppertown, Lowertown, Leeming and Horkingstone. The historic hamlets of Marsh and Shaw are also included in the village. The area became known as Oxenhope when the railway company named the station serving the area when the line from Keighley opened in 1867. Until then Oxenhope referred to a small settlement between the hamlet of Marsh and the village of Haworth.