Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Wytton c.1100 Allan 1777

• Wittune, Witun 1208×10 Fees

• villa de Witentone 1235 Ass

• Wyttone 1245×69 Finc

• Witton 1533 IPM

• Qwitton' 1304 Spec

• Quytton 1382 Hatf

• Whitton' 1356 Spec 1382 Hatf 1414 Spec

• Whittone 1361 GT

• Whitton 1418etfreqto1622 IPM 1611,1689,[1750×1]19th Lond

Etymology

Either 'Hwita's estate', OE  pers.n. Hwīta , genitive sing. Hwītan , + tūn or 'at the white farm', OE  (æt þǣm ) hwītan tūne , v. hwīt . The same uncertainty of explanation applies in the case of the other Whittons, cf. Whitton Middlesex TQ 1473, Wytton 1274, Whitton 1352 PNMx 30; Northumberland NU 0501, Witton 1228, W (h )itton 1275 NbDu 213; Shropshire SO 5772, Witet 'c.1174(p), Witinton c.1180(p), Witton 1236, Whitenton 1237, Whytton 1255×6 PNSa 1313; Suffolk TM 1447, Witton 1212, Wytenton 1216×72, Whytenton 1295 DEPN 515. The absence of initial Wh - in the early forms above might suggest the etymology wudu (widu ) + tūn 'farmstead in or by a wood', making it parallel with Witton Gilbert, Durham NZ 2345, Witton ' [1183] 14th, and Witton le Wear Durham NZ 1431 Widutun [c.1040] 12th, DCDPN.