Wood Walton
Major Settlement in the Parish of Wood Walton
Historical Forms
- Waltune 1086 DB 1236 FF
- Waltona 1155 BM
- Waltona Willelmi 1163 P
- Wauton 1225 FF 1244 Cl
- Walton juxta Sautre 1284 FF
- Walton juxta Ramsey c.1400 Linc
- Wodewalton 1300 BM
- Waleton 1315 Ipm
- Wallton al. Woodwallton 1567 FF
Etymology
There is a reference to the 'wood' from which it takes its distinctive name in 1219 in Rams 168. This is one of the Waltons in which there is a case for taking the name as from OE weall -tūn , 'wall-enclosure,' or 'enclosure by the wall,' rather than as OE wēala -tūn , 'farm of the Britons' or 'farm of the serfs,' for in the latter case one would have expected some forms with syllabic e (Waleton ). One might also suggest a possible weald -tūn in this area (v. weald ). There is mention of a Waldebrigg in this parish in 1218 (FF ).