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.

Witney

Major Settlement in the Parish of Witney

Historical Forms

  • (æt) Wyttanige 969 BCS1230 12th
  • (to) Wittannige 1044 KCD775 c.1150
  • Witenie 1086 DB 1285 Ass
  • Witten' 1151–73 Eynsh 1471 Eynsh
  • Witheneia 1163 P
  • Wittheneye, Wytheneya 1268–81 Eynsh
  • Whyteneye 1285 Ass
  • Wytney 1316 FA
  • Long Wytney c.1530 Frid

Etymology

'Witta 's island,' v. (ī)eg. The Windrush divides into numerous branches here, and there are several pieces of land surrounded by streams. Wittan mor ('Witta 's marsh') is mentioned in the boundaries of Witney in BCS 1230.

Places in the same Parish