WINCHESTER

(origin: Local) A city of Hampshire, England, called Caerwynt by the Britons, from Caer, a city, town, or fortified place, and gwint, wind, from its being a windy place. The Welsh gwin signifies wine, as if called the "Wine City." So Howel, in his Londonopolis, quotes from old Robert of Glo'cester: "In the country of Canterbury most plenty of fish is; And most chase of beasts about Salisbury I wis, And London ships most, and wine at Winchester, Soap about Coventry, and iron at Glo'cester; Metal, lead, and tin in the county of Exceter, Euorwick of fairest wood, Lincoln of fairest men, Cambridge and Huntingdon most plenty of deep venne, Ely of fairest place, of fairest sight, Rochester." Bailey defines it the "White City," from the Welsh "Caer guenif," because it is built upon a chalky soil.

Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.