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.

Higher Willyards

Early-attested site in the Parish of Broad Clyst

Historical Forms

  • la Wildeyerde 1238 Ass
  • atte Wildeyurde 1317 Ass
  • la Willeherd' 1249 Ass
  • la Willehurde 1275 RH
  • Willeurd 1330 Exon

Etymology

The second element of this name is the word yard discussed supra 48. The whole name would refer to a wild or uncultivated area of land. Cf. Willand supra 553.