Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Widetone, Widetun(e), Widitun 1086 DB

• Wython 1138–50 YCh1862

• Witheton, Wytheton 1170–80 Bodl137d 1212 Abbr 1263 YI 1276 RH 1279–81 QW 1280 YI 1348 FF

• Wytheton in Wherveldale 1260–70 Bodl161d

• Wytheton juxta Castelay 1345 Ass13

• Wicheton 1174 YChvi

• Wycherton 13 YDix

• Witon(a), Wyton(a) 12,13 Font 1246 FF 1299 Abbr

• Witton l.12 Font 1349 Ch

• Withton 1202–8 Ass 1213 Abbr

• Withiton 1226 Fount

• Wetheton 1312 Dugdvi

• Wieton 1314 Fount

• Weton 1343 BM 1379 PT 1439 Baild 1615 FF

• Weyton 1520 FF

• Weeton 1539 MinAcct 1641 Rates

Etymology

'Willow farmstead', v. wīðig , tūn , a fairly common p.n. The original long vowel -ī - was shortened in the compound and then underwent ME lengthening of short -ĭ - to -ē - in the open syllable (cf. Phonol. § 23); for loss of medial -th - cf. Skeeby YN 288.