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.

Dillington

Early-attested site in the Parish of Great Staughton

Historical Forms

  • Dilingtun 674 BCS 12th Rams c.1100 c.1350
  • Dellinctune 1086 DB
  • Dylynton, Dilinton, Dilynton 1241 FF 1253 BM
  • Dilington, Dylington 1245 For 1297 Ipm 1303 1310,1342 Cl 1358 Fine 1359 Ipm 1365 Cl 1464 BM
  • Dulintone 1255 For
  • Delington, Delyngton 1286 Ass 1372 BM 1377 FF 1378 Cl
  • Dillyngton, Dyllyngton 1323 1340 Ipm 1428 FA
  • Dellington al. Dyllington 1599 FF

Etymology

In the forged charter BCS 32 there is mention of a dilingbroc among the boundaries of Dillington. The probability is, not that the hamlet takes its name from the stream, but that both alike take their name from the same person, a fairly common phenomenon in place-names (cf. the history of Waddesdon and Beachendon, PN Bk 138–9). The later forms point clearly to an OE  Dy (l )la as first element, probably a derivative of the adj. dol , 'foolish,' and allied to the pers. name which lies behind Dullingham (C), cf. Ekwall PN in -ing 139. Hence 'Dyl(l)a's farm and brook,' v. ingtun .