Some towns and villages in the area date back to ancient times, with mentions in the Domesday Book of 1086. Others boast even older origins.
Exploring the Old English names of places around Oxfordshire unveils fascinating histories:
- Oxford
The name “Oxford” originates from the Old English Oxenaforda, meaning “ford of the oxen”, referring to a shallow river crossing. - Banbury
The name Banbury might derive from “Banna”, a Saxon chieftain from the 6th century. Historically called Banesburh in Anglo-Saxon, it appears as Banesberie in the Domesday Book. - Chipping Norton
Known for The Rollright Stones, Chipping Norton translates to “market north town”, with “Chipping” meaning “market” in Old English. - Wantage
Famous as the birthplace of King Alfred the Great in 849, Wantage began as a Roman settlement. Its name likely stems from an Old English phrase meaning “decreasing river” and is recorded as Wanating in the Domesday Book. Discover more about Wantage and create your free business profile or explore local activities on the directory. - Bicester
Named possibly from a personal name, Beorna (“Fort of the Warriors”), or the Latin Bi-cester (“two forts”), Bicester’s history dates back to the 7th century. - Didcot
Evidence shows the area around Didcot has been inhabited for millennia. Though absent from the Domesday Book, records from the 13th century note names like Dudecota and Dudecote. - Witney
Appearing in the Domesday Book as Witenie, Witney’s name comes from the Old English “Witta’s island”, with earlier records dating back to 969. - Henley
Henley’s archaeological history spans back to the 2nd century, with records from 1179 noting its significance. By 1485, it was known as “Henley up a Tamys”. - Wallingford
The name Wallingford evolves from Wælingford in a Saxon charter to Welingaford and Walingeford in the Domesday Book. - Abingdon
Abingdon Abbey’s founding in 676 lent its name to the town. Though the exact meaning remains debated, it’s thought to mean “Hill of a man named Æbba”.
