Helmsley
Major Settlement in the Parish of Helmsley
Historical Forms
- Elmeslac, Almeslai 1086 DB
- Helmeslac(h) 1155 Riev 1165–75 YCh 1170–85 YCh 1189 Riev 1252 Ch
- Helmesleia, Helmesley, Helmeslegh, Helmeslay c.1170 Whitby
- Helmele 1251 Ass
- Hemesley 1548 YChant 1597 NR
- Hemsley 1602 NR 1665 Visit
- Hamylac 1133–9 Riev
- Hamelac 1229 Pat 1230 Riev
- Hamelak(e) 1231 Ebor 1414 YI
- Hamelek 1251 Ass
- Haumelak 1232 Riev
- Haumelake 1283 YI
- Haumelac 1336 Ch
- Heaumele 1231 Ass
- Heaumelake 1258 Baildon
Etymology
The meaning of the name is clearly 'Helm's forest-clearing' v. leah . The OE pers. name Helm is only adduced in independent use in Widsith and in a Lincs Ass Roll of 1202, but it enters into Helmdon (Nth), Hemswell (L) and Helmingham (Nf, Sf).
The secondary forms are all due to French influence; as late as Camden's time we are told that there were two pronunciations of the name Helmesley and Hamelack and the barony of Roos of Hamlake only became extinct in 1632. OE Helm - became heaume - or haume - by AN influence. At the same time a + nasal was often written au (v. IPN 105, 4). The form Hame -, therefore, is due to confusion of aum representing AN vocalisation of l before m , and aum arising by nasalisation from earlier am , which was also still written am in many cases. Hamelac is therefore an inverted spelling for Haumelac . The pronunciation of the final element as lak is shown by the orthography and is further confirmed by Gaimar's rime Helmeslac -Espac . It may perhaps be best explained as an AN pronunciation of late Nthb lǣh , shortened in the unstressed syllable (cf. IPN 113, 3). An AN pronunciation of the name of a famous barony is very natural. Cf. also the DB form for Pockley 72infra in the immediate neighbourhood.