Walcott
Major Settlement in the Parish of Walcott
Historical Forms
- Walecota, Walchota 1086 DB
- Walecot(e) 1198(p),1267,1316 FF 1254–75 Val 1257,1269,1286 Ass 1267 Ch 1275 RH 1312 Ipm
- Wal(l)ekote c.1200,1270 BM 1250 Ass
- Walcot(e) 1225 Cur 1269 Ass 1275 RH 1302to1428 FA 1314,1316,1332 FF 1330 SR 1341 AD 1378 Cl 1392,1394,1401 Pat 1411 Bodl 1535 VE
- Wal(l)cotes 1254 Lewes 1308 BM
- Walkotes 1308 ib
- Walkote 1334 ib
- Walgote 1350 Cl
Etymology
The early spellings suggest OE *Walacot , *Walacotu (Angl) 'cottage or cottages of the Britons or the serfs'. Schram (193) considers the latter alternative preferable and so does Ekwall (DEPN s.n.). Schram thinks that the dwellings of the British servants belonging to the manor of Happisburgh were referred to. Walcott adjoins Happisburgh on the north. Cameron has examined the place- names which contain OE walh in relation to Romano-British archaeological remains and Walcott is an example where there is correlation with nearby archaeological finds (Journal 12: 49).Cameron finds it more plausible that in such cases the names commemorate recognizably British groups in the local population, who retained their national identity into the late seventh and early eighth centuries.