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.

Echington

Early-attested site in the Parish of Layston with Buntingford

Historical Forms

  • Ichetone 1086 DB
  • Ikinton 1200 Cur
  • Ykinton 1210–12 RBE 1212 Fees
  • Ickinton 1210–12 RBE
  • Hickentone 1240 FF
  • Hischentune c.1130 BM
  • Hichinton 13th Fees
  • Hychynton 1228 FF
  • Hichendon c.1145 BM
  • Highinton 1198 Cur
  • Hygenton 1230 Pat
  • Echington juxta Buntingford 1411 IpmR

Etymology

This is the name of a lost DB manor in Edwinstree Hundred.It was clearly near Buntingford and may well have been the original name for the chief manor of the parish, Layston being at first merely the name of the church. The forms vary too much for any interpretation to be possible.