Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Wydestun, Wudestun 973 Thorney c.1300–25

• Wodestun 1086 DB

• Wedeston 1201 Cur

• Wudeston 1260 Ass

• Wodeston 1268 BM

• Woodston 1549 FF

• Woodsone 1675 Ogilby

Etymology

OE  names Wuduman and Ōswudu are on record and there is evidence for other compounds such as Wudumǣr and Wuduhere (cf. Widdrington PN NbDu). From these there may have been formed a pet-form Wud , which might give a p.n. Wudestun . For the Wyd -, Wed - forms we may note the forms wudu , widu for the independent word in OE , such forms as Widia , Wudga in OE  for another derivative pers. name from the same stem, and the Wid - forms (side by side with those in Wud -) discussed under Widdrington loc. cit .

The other and much less likely alternative is to take it as 'farm of the wood.' The normal genitive of OE  wudu is wuda , but, as pointed out by Skeat, wudes is found in late OE.