Worthing
Early-attested site in the Parish of Broadwater (including Worthing)
Historical Forms
- Ordinges, Mordinges 1086 DB
- Wording(e) 1240 FF 1285 Ass 1327 SR
- Wordyng 1296 SR 1313 FF
- Wurddingg' 1218 FF
- Wurthing 1240,1249 FF
- Worthing(e) 1244 Orig
- Worthinges 1288 Ass
- Werthing 1261 Ass
- Werthyng 1295 Pat
- Wyrthyng 1397 Cicestr
- Wortinge 1333 SRS4
Etymology
The suggestion that this name is a metathesised form of OE worðign such as is found in weorðing (BCS 455) (v. Roberts PN Sx 179) can hardly pass, for there is no evidence that the word worðign was ever used in this area. Ekwall (PN in -ing 65, PN La 78) shows that there is evidence for an OE pers. name Weorð and since he wrote evidence of an OE pers. name Weorðgiefu , a compound of this element, has been found in Uordgiue (11th) in a Bury Survey and Wrtheue (1222) in the Domesday of St Paul's. Hence 'Weord 's people,' v. ing .