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.

Alvington

Early-attested site in the Parish of Cawston

Historical Forms

  • Alvingeton 1196 FF
  • Aluinton 1202 Seld
  • Alvingetun c.1250 Lothian
  • Aluingetone 1257 Ass
  • Aluingtune 1258 Coxf
  • Aluyngtonmille 1354 Ct
  • Aluyngton 1361 Ct 1417–8 Acc
  • Alvyngton 1422,1455 Ct
  • Alwyngton 1452 1481 ECC
  • Alvington Field 1580 ManorMap
  • Alvington Green 1562 Terr

Etymology

Alvington, Alvingeton 1196 FF, Aluinton 1202 Seld, Alvingetun (p) c. 1250Lothian , Aluingetone (p) 1257Ass , Aluingtune (p) 1258Coxf , Aluyngtonmille 1354Ct , Aluyngton 1361Ct , 1417–8Acc , Alvyngton 1422, 1455Ct , Alwyngton 1452ib , 1481 ECC, Alvington Field 1580Manor Map , Alvington Green 1562Terr , the OE  pers.n. Ælf or Ælfa (Redin 3, 121) plus -ingatūn or -ingtūn . The former meant 'the tūn of the Ælfingas', the latter was almost the equivalent of 'Ælf 's or Ælfa 's tūn '. The latter has been the usual explanation (cf. West Alvington and Alphington PN D 288, 422). For the first element, OE  Ælfwine might also be considered. Said to have been anciently a large village, Alvington was still a hamlet in 1829 (NfT 198, cf. Blomefield VI268, White 462).