This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'at the twitchen,' an alley that led from one parish to another, or between two main thoroughfares. 'Twitchel, a narrow passage, an alley. North' (Halliwell). In the South it was Twitchen. The 'g' in Twitching and Twitchings is an excrescence, the final 's' being genitive (compare Jennings from Jenin). In Wood's City of Oxford, edited by Mr. Clark, I find, 'A messuage in Kibald's twychen, that is, I suppose, Kibaldi bivium, a double way, or a way having two parts, and common to tow parishes, as that was without doubt to St. Maries and St. Johns'. Further on I find mention of 'Kepeharme's Twychen' (p. 199); and again, 'Sewey's Twychen' (p. 223). That the word was familiar in the hereditary surname period is clear from the following entries:

Richard Twychenweye, Somerset, t Edward III: Kirby's Quest.

Henry Twychenweye, Somerset, 1 Edward III: ibid.

Nicholas Twycheenweye, Somerset, 1 Edward III: ibid.

The above means 'at the Twychen way,' the way that led to the twitchen, or more probably the passage or alley itself. The surname still lingers in the neighbourhood of Oxford.

Richard de la Twichena, Devon, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

1604. Andrew Twitchin, Hampshire: Register of the University of Oxford.

1744. Married — James Twickten (sic) and Mary Benson: St. George, Hanover Square.

(English) belonging to Twitchen; or Dweller at the Two-Roads’ Meet (Latin bivium) [Middle English twychen, twichen, Old English twicen(e, ‘place where two roads meet’] Twitchen, Devon, is prob. referred to in the Hundred-Rolls (Devonsh.) entry ‘Richard de la Twichena.’

From Twitchen; a location name in Norfolk.

The Twitchins were represented by Andrew Twichin, who owned South Barnard Field, Southampton, in the reign of George I. (W.). Twitchen is a Devonshire parish.