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.

Littleworth

Early-attested site in the Parish of Great Faringdon

Historical Forms

  • (æt) Wyrðæ c.971 ASWills 12th
  • Ordia 1086 DB
  • Worda c.1187 AC 1354 Pat 1363 ib
  • Wurða 1195 P
  • Wrhd' 1220 Fees
  • Wurth (p), P'ua Worth' 1241 Ass
  • Parva Wurth' 1242–3 Fees
  • Word c.1270 AD
  • Petyte Wrth, Lytleworth, Parua Worth 1284 Ass
  • Parua Worth 1327 SR
  • Parvum Worth 1428 FA

Etymology

The form of c. 971 is from the will of Ealdorman Ælfheah of Hants. He leaves 120 hides at Wyrðæ to King Edgar, and his other bequests include an estate at Færndunæ (Faringdon). Littleworth seems the most satisfactory identification for Wyrðæ , but the hidage can hardly have applied to this settlement alone, v. Faringdonsupra .