Woolavington
Major Settlement in the Parish of East Lavington, otherwise Woolavington
Historical Forms
- Levitone 1086 DB
- Wellauenton 1209 FF
- Wullauinton 1230,1271 FF 1242 Fees690
- Wullavyton 1243 Pat
- Wullaventone 1259 Lewes
- Wollaventone 1268 Ipm 1273 Cl
- Wollavynton 1296 SR
- Wollavyton 1316 FA 1327 SR
- Wollavyngton 1330 Ipm
- Wol-Lavington 1397 IpmR
- Woollavington 1724 B
- Levinton and Lovinton in 1212–4 (Fees 272, 340)
Etymology
'Wulflāf 's farm,' v. ingtun . Cf. Woolavington (So), Willington (Wa) and Woolhampton (Berks). Already in DB the place could be called Levitone (for Lafingtun ) but evidence for such a shortened form is curiously scanty at a later date. Certain examples of such are Levinton and Lovinton in 1212–4 (Fees 272, 340). It may be that even earlier than DB a shortened form was in use. In an 8th cent, charter (BCS 144), which probably deals with land near East Dean, we have mention of lavingtunes dic which must have to do with either Barlavington supra 100 or Woolavington, but as the charter is defective just before the l , we cannot tell whether lauingtun really stood by itself or whether it was preceded by Beorn - or Wulf -. Lauingtun - Levitone might be explained as an alternative name for Woolavington derived from the pet-form Lāfa for Wulflāf or it might simply be a shortening of the longer name, cf. s. n. Orleswick infra 325. It is even more difficult to find early examples in which this Lavington was distinguished from Barlavington by being called East Lavington. A possible example is Estleuyngton in 1288 (Ass 925 m 18). It is also sometimes called Old Lavington (cf. SAC 12, 103), cf. Old Lanington (sic) in 1675 (Wills).