Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Wistanestov 1086 DB

• Wistanestowe 1199 ChR

• Wistanestou 1236 Fees

• Wystanestowe 1245 RGros e.14 RydCart

• Wistanistoue 1220 MHW

• Whistanestowe 1244 Cur

• Witenesto 1086 DB

• Wikstanesthowa e.13 Wyg

• Wixstant' 1208 MemR

• Wistonestow(e) 1200 FF 1208 P

• Wistenestou' 1207 ib

• Wistenestow(e) 1208 ChancR 1242 Fees

• Wistenstowe 1206 P

• Wistonstow(e) 1208 1272 Pat

• Wystonstowe 1292 Ipm

• Wistanstowe c.1253 RHug 1271 Pat 1313 Ipm

• Wystanstowe 1254 Val 1313 Ipm 1375 et passim

• Wystow(e) 1282 Pat c.1291 Tax 1322 Fine 1325 Banco 1436 Fine 1467 Wyg 1572,1582 LEpis

• Wistou 1313 Pat

• Wistouwe 1325 Ipm

• Wistowe 1316 FA 1327 SR 1572 LEpis 1605 LML

• Wistow 1514 EpCB 1518 Visit 1576 LEpis

Etymology

Most probably 'the holy place of (Saint) Wigstan', v. stōw . Wīgstān was a member of the Mercian royal family who was murdered during a royal council meeting in 849 at a place which the medieval Life of St Wigstan calls Wistanstowe . His body was taken for burial in the Mercian royal mausoleum at Repton where he was subsequently revered as a martyr. Wistow's parish church, which contains Norman fabric, is dedicated to St Wistan and is the traditional site of his death. The church stands on slightly raised ground away from the lower-lying village and this may indicate that the settlement on its less favourable site developed because the church became a place of pilgrimage. For stōw , 'a place associated with a saint' and 'a meeting place' are early senses.