Winchendon (Upper and Lower) and J
Major Settlement in the Parish of Winchendon
Historical Forms
- yincandum (sic) 1004 StFrides Eiii
- wincandon Ethelred Eii ib
- Witchende 1086 DB
- Wichendone 1086 DB 1182 P 1227 WellsR
- Wikendon(a) 1155 NLC 1199 Cur
- Wichindone 1160–5 NLC
- Winchenton 1175,1176 P
- Winchendon 1176 P 1204 Fines c.1218 WellsL 1221 Bract
- Wichinton 1178 P
- Whychindone c.1220 WellsR
- Whychinton 1241 Ass
- Wichedona 1221 Bract
- Wynchendone c.1232 WellsR
- Winchedone 1232 WellsR 1242 Fees881 1255 For
- Whichedon 1242 Fees
- Wynchindon 1255 For
- Wynchedon 1262 Ass 1285 QW 1316 FA 1349 Pat
- Wychendon 1262 Ass 1335 Pat
- Wynchyndone 1302 FA 1375 Pat 1435 ADvi
- Wechendon 1447 Pat
- Wynchingdon 1535 VE
- Over Winchingdon 1575 ADvi
- Nether Witchingdon 1627 Vern
Etymology
Possibly OE Winecan -dūn , 'Wineca's hill.' This pers. name, originally a diminutive of one of the numerous compound names in Wine -, is found in Winecanfeld (BCS 778) for Winkfield (Berks). The form Winch -, rather than Wink -, offers difficulty but may possibly be due to the influence of the related form Winec (e ) found in Winecesburug BCS 1099 and Wincesburch (ib. 1164) for Winsbury (So). The early and persistent loss of n before [tʃ] in the local pronunciation is noteworthy. Upper and Lower are respectively Great and Little Winchendon. Winkburn (Nt) probably contains the same personal name Win (e )ca .