Ossington
Major Settlement in the Parish of Ossington
Historical Forms
- Oschintone 1086 DB
- Oscinton(a) 1108 Dugdv t.Ed2 CartHospitiv 1189 Abbr 1208 Ch 1316
- Oskintun' 1174–81 Ch 1137
- Oskinton(e) t.Hy2,1201 RBE
- Hoscintona t.Hy2 Ch 1316
- Oscington 1205 Pap 1288,1297 Ipm
- Occingtun c.1220 BM
- Ossinton 1280 Ch
- Ossington 1312 FF
- Osington 1316 FA
Etymology
It would seem that this name must be considered together with Orston infra 227, fifteen miles to the south. The forms of the two names, in the earliest records, are practically identical, except that at the end of the 12th century, Orston begins to show forms Orskinton and the like with an additional r which is never found in the forms of Ossington. The problem is whether the r which is found in the forms of Orston is original or whether this name may have undergone some deliberate alteration in order to distinguish it from an identical place- name in the same county. The names show no signs of differentiation until the closing years of the 12th century, and the probabilities are therefore in favour of original identity with later differentiation. Ekwall (DEPN) would take the original form in both names alike to be Osricingtun , i.e. 'farm of Osric ' (v. ingtun ), but this seems unlikely as it has no support in the forms of Ossington and compels us to rely on the later rather than the earlier forms of Orston. More probably we should start from an OE diminutive such as *Ōs (i )ca , and take the name to derive from OE Oscingtun with later deliberate differentiation by the introduction of inorganic r , and possible subsequent confusion with the common word hors , 'horse.'