Winkburn
Major Settlement in the Parish of Winkburn
Historical Forms
- Wicheburne (sic) 1086 DB
- Winkeburn(a) c.1150 Dane
- Hospitaliorum Winkeburn(a) 1185 P 1330 Ass
- Wincheburna 1167 P
- Wynckeburn 1332 SR
- Winkerburn' 1188 P
- Winkelburn 13th Rufford
- Wingeburne 1275 RH
Etymology
Probably 'Wineca 's stream,' v. burna , with irregular forms Winker -, Winkel -. For the personal name cf. Winkfield (Berks), Winecanfeld (BCS 1127). We might perhaps take Winker - and Winkel - as the more correct forms, going back to OE wincelburna , 'stream with nooks and corners in it,' and Scandinavianising of winch (el ) to wink (el ), but that seems less probable.The present-day name of the stream—The Wink —is clearly a back-formation, v. supra 9. Hospitaliorum from the holding of the knights of St John.