Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Werlington 1274 Fine 1308,1311 Ipm

• Wirlinton 1274 Ipm

• Wirlenton 1317–26 BM

• Werlyngton 1308 Ipm

• Hwirleton 1278 P

• Wyrlingtone 1293 Ipm

• Wyrlyngton 1324 P 1332 BM

• Wurlynton 1330 Ipm

• Wurlyngton 1365 Ct

Etymology

We should probably take this name in association with Worleston (Ch), DBWerelestune , c. 1100 St Werb Weruelestone .The early forms suggest the possibility of an OE  hwyrfel as the first element. OE  hwyrfel (or its Norse counterpart hvirfill ) is found as the first element in Whorlton (PN NRY 177) denoting a rounded hill, but there is no such hill at Worleston, and as the village is away from the river, the sense 'eddying pool' does not seem very probable. Unfortunately we know nothing of the topography of Werlington . Taking everything into consideration a pers. name seems more likely, but though Hvirfill is used as a nickname in ON  we have no evidence of a similar use of Hwyrfel in OE.