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.

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 ).

Places in the same Parish