Watling - Origins of the name In the 5th/6th.century a
band of people crossed the North Sea from Europe to the British Isles, we do
not know if it was one,or more boats, but as a yachtsman sailing these same
waters I would suppose the later, there being safety in numbers. They knew
where they were going as trading was and had taken place long before,also they
would have had oral stories from their fore bearers who might have served in
the Roman Legions, with out a shred of evidence I like to think that they were
Angles, or possibly Jute in origin rather than Saxon. The Leader of this band
was WACEAL, and those with him of the same tribe, clan, or group were the
Waceal - ingas. Ingas was not son of as in the Scottish Watson, but meaning the
people of, or the followers of Waceal, so a member of this group would be
refered to as Wacealingas. As time past the name began to change form, the
vowels hardening, or softening, plus the input from people of other tongues and
one form was Waslin. The earliest records that I have are for Norfolk 1086, the
DOOM'S DAY BOOK.in this book is recorded the Manor in the Half Hudred of
Diss,today scholars call it a lost Manor as it where abouts are unknown. (I
have my own theory,but that is another story).The Manor of Watlingeseta it
states was held by the king (William,in 1086 and before 1066,Edward the
Confessor). Also recorded in the book is Wazalin who held land at Weeting,
Norfolk,one of the few Anglo Saxons still holding land after William the
Bastard and his bunch of land grabbing thugs won the Battle of Hastings.
Watling Street was built by the Romans during their occupation and the name
came after the Roman period, the present day town of St. Albans was originally
Watlingceaster, but after the martyrdom of St.Alban the name changed, it can be
supposed that the Wacealingas lived there. There we are then folks, how much
further do you want to trace the family back? Any one want to prove me wrong, I
love a debate, lots more where this comes from.
Kenneth Watling (Wato) |