Wethersfield
Major Settlement in the Parish of Wethersfield
Historical Forms
- Witheresfelda 1086 DB
- Wihterefeld 1135–54 BM
- Witherfeud 1281 Ipm
- Wytheresfeud 1285 Ass
- Westrefeldā 1086 DB
- Westerfeld t.Hy3 Ipm
- Weðresfeld' 1177 P
- Wether(e)sfeld 1232–56 FF 1293 Ipm
- Wether(e)sfeud 1234 FF
- Wethresfeud 1253 ib
- Wetherresfold 1303 FA
- Wetherisfeld, Wetherisfeld Halle 1430 Cunnington 1535 VE
- Whether(r)esfeld 1254 Ass 1346–1428 FA
- Wotheresfeld 1265 Misc
- Wedersfeld 1535 VE
- Werefeld' 1185 RotDom 1248 Ass
- Werefeud 1246 Cl 1254 Ass
- Wer(e)sfeld 1235 Ass 1281 Ipm
- Wether(e)feu(l)d 1230 Bracton 1274 RH
- Wether(e)feld 1255 Ass 1266 Pat
- Weteresfeud 1238 SR
- Wetirifeud 1254 Ass
- Weiringfeud 1254 Ass
- Weyeresfeld 1291 Tax
Etymology
The first element in this name is probably a pers. name and it might be an OE Weðer found also in Withersdale and Withersfield (Sf) DBWeresdel , Wedresfelda . For such a name cf. Mawer, MLR xiv, 236 ff. The spellings Westre -, Wihtere - etc. suggest, however, that the name was really OE Wihthere , with early confusion with Weðer , either as pers. name or significant word.