Wingfield
Early-attested site in the Parish of Chalgrave
Historical Forms
- Winfeld, Wynfeld c.1200 Dunst 13th FF 1225 Ass 1227 Ass 1247 Ass 1276 Dunst 1286
- Wintfeld 13th Dunst
- Winefeld, Wynefeld 1249 Dunst 13th Dunst 1286 ADi 1317
- Wynchefeld 1276 Ass
- Wyndeselde (sic) 1535 VE
- Winfield 1675 Ogilby
Etymology
The early forms are indecisive. Wintfeld , Wynchefeld , here recorded for the first time, make Skeat's suggestion of a pers. name Wina unlikely. Possibly the first element is the word wince , used of a nook or corner, the likelihood of which was demonstrated in PN Bk 203. Wingfield does stand at the head of a little valley. If the last theory is the correct one the ch must early have been lost between the n and the f . It is clear in any case that the ng for n is a late corruption.
Professor Ekwall suggests that this name may be connected with the OE pers. name Winta . A strong genitive form Wintesfeld , side by side with the correct Wintanfeld , would, with common development of ts to ch , explain Wynchefeld .