English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Willington's Fm, Willington's Down Fm

Early-attested site in the Parish of Long Wittenham

Historical Forms

  • Wigbaldincgtune c.895 BCS581 c.1200
  • Wibalditone 1086 DB
  • Wibaldiston' c.1155 AddMS 18th
  • Wybaldinton' 1205 OblR
  • Wibaldeston' 1205 Cur
  • Wibaldinton' 1206 ib

Etymology

Willington's Fm, Willington's Down Fm, Wigbaldincgtune c. 895 (c. 1200) BCS 581, Wibalditone 1086 DB, Wibaldiston 'c. 1155 (18th) AddMS 6714 , Wybaldinton '1205 OblR, Wibaldeston '1205 Cur, Wibaldinton '1206 ib. 'Wīgbeald's farm', v.ingtūn ; -ing- appears to have alternated with the -es of the gen.sing. The 2½″ map shows Wigbald Fm, S.W. of Long Wittenham village, and this could be another development of the same name. The bounds of Appleford in BCS 581 mention 'the old ditch which lies between wigbaldincgtune and Appleford' (v. Pt 3), and this, together with the scattered position of the farms which bear the modern name, and the description of the estate in DB, suggests that it was an ancient land-unit, comprising the western part of Long Wittenham.