Sompting
Major Settlement in the Parish of Sompting
Historical Forms
- Suntinga gemære 956 BCS961
- Suntinges, Suntynges 1186 France 1201 Cur 1203 FF 1279 Ass 1291 Cl
- Sonting(g)es 1252 Ch 1273 Ipm
- Sultinges 1086 DB
- Sumptinges 1242 Fees689
- Sumptyng 1336 Ipm 1637 MarL
- Somptyng 1380 SAC5,238
- Suntyng(e) 1267 FF 1438 Cicestr
- Sotintinge, Sotyntinge 1289 Cl 1697 MarL
- Sontyng(e), Sonting(e) 1296 SR 1316 FA
- Sountinge al. Soumtinge 1596 SRS33,42
- Sountynd 1595 ib
- Sowntyng 1556 Recov
- Sompting al. Sounting 1641 Recov
Etymology
Ekwall suggests that this is from the OE pers. name Sunta , once recorded (PN in -ing 62). We may have here the pers. name but it should be noted that there is a Sunt in Shipley supra 191 and Sunte in Lindfield infra 343 which suggest the existence of some significant word stint in earlier days, from which Suntingas might be derived. It is difficult to connect the places topographically. Sompting church stands where the slope of the downs begins to be sharp, the two Sunt(e)s lie on slight hills between two streams, v. Addenda xlvi.