Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Gullingham 1086 DB

• Vlingeham 1086 DB

• Wilingeham 1086 DB

• Willingeham c1115 LS 1175–6 P 1219 LAHW

• Willingheim c1115 LS

• Willingham 1163 RAi 1576 Saxton 1610 Speed

• Wilingham 1160 Dane

• Wullingeham 1220 LAHW

• Wllingham (sic) 1251 FF 1254 ValNor

• Wullingham 1253 Misc

• Wullyngham 1288 Ass

• Wolingham 1265 Misc 1292 Cl 1292 Ipm 1329 Ass

• Wolyngham 1291 Tax 1322 Ipm 1327,1332 SR Ed3 NI

• Wlingham 1297 RAix

• Wylyngham 1311 Pat 1317 1428 FA

• Wylingham 1315 Ipm

• Welyngham 1373 Peace

• Cherwellyngham 1373 Peace

• Cherywylyngham 1382 Peace

• Chery Wyllyngham 1396 Peace

• Chyry Willyngham 1397 Cl

• Cheri Wylyngham 1402 FA

• Cherywillyngham 1454 Pat

• Cherywillingham 1578–9 AD

• Chery Willingham 1454–5 Inqaqd 1553 Pat

• Therywyllyngham (sic) 1495 AASR

• Wyllyngham 1496 Ipm

• Cherewyllingham 1526 Sub

• Chere Willyngham 1526 VE

• Chery Willyngham 1536–7 Dugd 1538–9 AD

• Willygham alies Cherywillyngham 1571 Pat

• Cherry Willingham 1576 LER

• Cerye Willingham 1601 WillsL

Etymology

Here, Willingham is 'the homestead, the estate of the Willingas', v. -ingahām . OE  *Willingas is a group-name, 'the family, the dependants of Willa'. OE  Willa is a hypocoristic form of OE  names in Wil -, such as Wilfrið , Wilhēah , etc., and occurs in independent use as late as 1066 (Redin 57; Feilitzen 415). OE  Willa also forms the first el. of South Willingham (Wraggoe Wapentake LSR). Both these names should be kept separate from Willingham by Stow (Well Wapentake LWR) and North Willingham (Walshcroft Wapentake LNR), which contain the sacral name *Wīfel (see PN L 3180 f.; DLPN 139).

The prefix 'Cherry' is ME  cheri(e) 'a cherry tree' and would denote a place where such trees grew.