Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Clakyngeywyk, Clakenjaywyk(k)e 1438,1441 MinAcct

• Clakynjay 1441 ib

• Clackyngia Wyke 1459,1496,1546 ib

• Clakkyngeswyk 1545 ib

• Clac(e)ton, Clak(e)ton Jaewyke, Jaywick, Jawyke 1513,1540,1545 1553 Pat

• Clarkenwyke alias Clarkengaywyke 1548 Pat

• Gey wyck 1584 Will

• Jewick 1768 M 1777 C 1805 O

Etymology

Although the forms are late, there can be little doubt that this is for Klakkinga-wic or Claccinga-wic , and that the name is directly to be connected with Clacton itself (supra 334). The most likely history of the name is that it denotes 'the dairy-farm of the people of Klak or Clacc ,' the man who himself gave name to Clacton. The name is probably older than its late occurrence would suggest. One could not imagine such a formation arising in the 15th century, and further, one would hardly expect the development of ME  inge to [indʒ] which is found also in Bovinger for Bobbingworth supra 52, and in Dengie supra 213 to occur so late. At some stage in its history the form Clack-inge -wick , with syllabic e . seems to have been understood as Clackengewick , Clacken was then interpreted as the local form of Clacton , and the name taken to be Clacton Jewick or Jaywick , and the Clacton was finally dropped.