Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Okelyng 1167 Misc 1342 SR 1296 FA 1302 CplM 1310 SR 1332 Cl 1342 1376 Pat 1548

• Okelynge, Ockelinge 1316,1332 CplM 1334 Ass 1353 Ass 1548 Pat 1670 Pat

• Okelyngge 1327 Banco

• Ocklinghill 1533 CplM

• Ockling 1587 Survey

• Ocklinge 1627 Ct

• Ocklin Hill 1689 Depositions

Etymology

This is the name of a chalk-ridge of high ground along which the main Willingdon-Eastbourne road runs. The topography suggests that the second element is hlinc and that this is one of the examples of the corruption of that element noted by Ekwall (PN in -ing 29–30). The first element would most naturally be associated with OE  āc or perhaps āca (gen. pl.), hence 'oak-ridge' or 'ridge of the oaks,' but oak-trees are very rare here. In view of these facts and the absence of any early form in a , we should probably take the first element to be the pers. name Oc (c )a found perhaps in OE  Ocea (sic ) and certainly in Ocanleah (BCS 627), now Ockley (Sr).