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meaning and origin of name
Could anyone know the origin and meaning of the name WHILDING? My greatgrandfather's forenames were Joseph Whilding , from Ampthill, Bedfordshire, England (though his middle name was spelt 'Welding' by the clergyman,the bearer always spelt it 'Whilding'). The rest of the famil, that I know were English and bore ordinary names , for the exception of GOODE and MORTON(after an ancestor's surname)
Than you in advance
Lilian
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-ing was an old English suffix indicating 'place or stream characterized by' or 'place belonging to'.Wild has two possibilities: the OE personal name Wifel (as in Wilden, Herefordshire 'hill of Wifela') or the OE word wilig 'willow tree' (as in Wilden, Bedfordshire 'willow-tree valley').Not exact science but since your ancestor came out of Beds. I'd use that meaning so you would get the full course of 'willow stream' or 'place of willows'.cheersDevon
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