What goes to make a name

[willprentice]

What is the origin of the surname 'Withrington' (NOT Witherington)?

[Ewood27]

It's quite likely both names started out the same. when a surname undergoes small changes it is usually because (a) someone always spelt it that way, perhaps not even knowing they were changing it, (b) they wanted to make it different, perhaps more 'select', or the most common reason (c) before 1900, many people were illiterate, so when names were wriitten into records the informant had no idea whether the vicar, registrar or whoever had spelt it correctly. 'Turner' is a common name, but I have seen it spelt Turnor, Tourner, Tournour and something else which I forget for the moment. The two names you mention are so similar that I think one is probably an accidental variation of the other.

[Quizmonster]

I'm sure Ewood is right and that there is no significant difference between the two names. As to the origin/meaning, let me suggest the following:-

a. 'with' - from Old English - meant 'willow'

b. ring or rinn - from Celtic - meant 'a point'

c. ton - from Old English - meant 'fortified place' and later came to be 'town'.

Bearing in mind that many surnames come from place-names, it seems very likely that the earliest With(e)ringtons came from a high fortified place with willow trees on it.