English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Whitrigg

Early-attested site in the Parish of Bowness

Historical Forms

  • Wyterik' 1249 Cl
  • Whyterigg, Quyterig, Wythirgg' 1279 Ass
  • Wyterig' ib. (p)
  • Quiterigg, Quyterigg 1295 Cl
  • Wyteri(c)k' 1301 Ass
  • Whiterig 1332 SR
  • Whitriglees, White- riggeleas 1589 ExchKR
  • Witterigelease 1589 LRMB

Etymology

'White ridge,' from hvítr , ON equivalent of OE  hwīt, and hryggr (v. under hrycg ). “A great long white rigg” (Denton 75).

“The pasture ground and Lee of Whitrigg” (Denton 76). v. lǣs .