Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Waltonesford(e) 1294 SR

• Waltonesford(e) in parochia de Hiche 1337 Ass

• Waltonisforthe t.Ric2 Wymondley

• Waltonsforth 1460 Ct

• Waltonforde 1377 FF

• Waltesforthe 1469 FF 1556 AOMB

• Waltesworde al. Waltesforthe 1553 DeedsEnrolled

• Wallyngtonforde t.Hy8 MinAcct

• Walssworth 1523 FF

• Walseforde t.Ed6 Chantry

• Wallesworth 1556 AOMB

• Walsworth 1596 N

• Walser 1619 Sess

• Walsaw, Wallsoe 1680 ib

• le Walwey 1460 Ct

• Walshamsted, Welshemancroft 1556 AOMB

• Walcott 1608 Add

Etymology

It would seem that this name was originally 'Walton 's ford,' i.e. 'ford belonging to some (lost) place named Walton ,' though without earlier forms it is impossible to tell if the first element of this name was OE  weall, wealh or weald . It may be noted that in early field-names in Hitchin parish we find le Walwey 1460Ct , Walshamsted , Welshemancroft 1556AOMB , Walcott 1608Add . The third example cited and the fact that Walsworth is close to an important and ancient estate (cf. PN Bk xix) rather favours derivation from OE  wēala tūn , 'farm of the serfs or Britons.' This Walton would stand in the same relation to Hitchin as the Buckinghamshire one does to Aylesbury.