Averingdown (Fm)
Early-attested site in the Parish of West Wycombe
Historical Forms
- Haveringedune 1222 WellsR 1291 Tax
- Haveringdon in West Wycomb 1241 Ass
- Haveringdon al. West Wycombe 1391 Pat
- Havern Down 1766 J
Etymology
This is the name of a lost village on the spur of the Chilterns just to the north of West Wycombe. The latter name seems commonly to have been applied to the manor, the former to the church. It is clear that the first element in this name is Hæfering (a ), a formation in ing from the pers. name Hæfer dealt with under Haversham supra . Hence 'hill of Hæfer' or 'of Hæfer's people.' It may be suspected that Averingdown is a modern archaistic revival and that the genuine local survival is to be found in the Hearnton of Hearnton Wood just by.