Very brief notes on OE -ing(as) and -ing(a)- in English place-names by Slim Paul, one rainy evening with no telly...

A major difficulty is distinguishing between:

(1) names containing the singular Old English derivational suffix -ing which is in effect simply a place-name-forming device meaning 'place characterized by -' or 'place associated with -'.
For example, Stowting (Kent) 'place characterized by a mound', Clavering (Essex) 'place where clover grows', Eggringe (Kent) 'place associated with a man called Eadgar', Ruckinge (Kent) 'place frequented by rooks', Woolbeding (Sussex) 'place associated with a man called Wulfbaed'.

(2) names containing the plural OE suffix -ingas which means 'people of -, followers of -, family of -, dwellers at -'.
For example, Wymering (Hants) 'people of a man called Wigmaer', Honing (Norfolk) 'dwellers at the rock', Hastings (Sussex) 'people of a man called *Haesta'.

This same distinction must also be made between:

(3) names containing the OE connective particle -ing- meaning 'associated with -', 'connected with -' (i.e. this -ing- functions like the -ing in section (1) above, of which it is an extended application).
For example, Dallington (Sussex) 'estate associated with a man called Dalla', Brushdane (Kent) [bisceopincgdene in 824] 'valley associated with a bishop', High Halden (Kent) 'woodland pasture associated with a man called Heathuwald', Kemerton (Glos) 'estate associated with a woman called Cyneburg'.

(4) names containing OE -inga-, which is the genitive (i.e. possessive) case of -ingas (thus meaning 'of the people of -, of the followers of -, of the family of -, of the dwellers at -').
For example, Goodmanham (E.Yorks) 'village of the people of a man called Godmund', Horringford (IoW) 'ford of the dwellers at the horn of land', Wingham (Kent) 'village of the dwellers at the heathen temple', Worlingworth (Suffolk) 'curtilage of the people of a man called Wilhere', Beddingham (Sussex) 'hemmed-in land of the people of a man called Beada'.

A necessary caveat: as these examples show, the modern form of a place-name is not sufficient evidence upon which to base an interpretation; the earliest available spellings must be consulted. And of course there will always be cases where, due to lack of early data, no certainty is possible. Did I mention I haven't got a telly? Is anybody out there?

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