Distington
Major Settlement in the Parish of Distington
Historical Forms
- Distingtona a.1230 HolmC
- Distington, Distyngton 1256 FF
- Distinton 1256 FF 1292 Ass
- Distincton 1294 Cl c.1305 StB
- Distynton' 1342 FF
- Dustinton c.1230,1295 StB
- Dustyngton 1291 Tax
- Dustincton' 1292 Ass
- Drisington 1291 Tax
- Dissington 1671 Fleming 1761 Work 1797 PR(Skelton)
Etymology
No satisfactory explanation of this name can be offered. The forms suggest very strongly that the name is an OE compound ending in -ingtūn, and the series, as a whole, is definitely against the suggestion (DEPN) that the first element may be an OE adjective *dysten , 'dusty.'All that can at present be said is that the name is a survival from the Old Anglian nomenclature of the north-west, and that its original form appears to have been Dystingtūn .