Willington Family History

From any or all of the places named Willington (Beds, Cheshire, Derbys, Durham, Gloucs, Kent, Northumb, Warwicks), there is little evidence for the surname in NE England. The Beds, Derbys, and Gloucs place-names derive from Old English *wilign ‘willow, willow copse’ + tūn ‘farmstead, estate’.

The Cheshire place-name is recorded as Winfletone in 1086 and derives from the Old English female personal name Wynflǣd + tūn. The Durham place-name, recorded as Wyvelintun about 1190, and the Northumb place-name, recorded as Wiuelington in 1203, derive from the Old English personal name Wifel + Old English connective -ing- + tūn.

The Kent place-name is recorded as Wyldyntone about 1400 and probably derives from an Old English personal name *Wilde + Old English connective -ing- + tūn. The Warwicks place-name is recorded as Wolauitona in 1224 and derives from the Old English personal name Wulflāf + Old English connective -ing- + tūn.