Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Wacafeld 1086 DB

• Wachefeld 1158 P

• Wakefeld 1170 P 1281 Cl

• Wackefeld t.Hy2 Pat 1383 Misc 1252 For 1287,t.Ed3

• landia de Wakefeld c.1220 For

• bailliva de Wakefeld 1337 For

• the lawnd of Wakefield 1598 Depositions

Etymology

Wakefield Lawn is Wacafeld 1086 DB, Wachefeld 1158 P, Wakefeld 1170 Pet freq to 1281 Cl, Wackefeld t. Hy 2 (1383) Pat, 1252 Misc, 1287, t. Ed 3For , landia de Wakefeld c. 1220For , bailliva de Wakefeld 1337For , the lawnd of Wakefield 1598Depositions .'Waca 's land,' v. feld . The name is traditionally associated with the ancient oak called Wake 's Oak , now perished (VCH i, 62).For this pers. name cf. Wakeham (PN Sx 43). laund is a woodland term for an open space in woodland, from OFr  la (u )nde , 'wooded ground.' For bailliva , cf. Cliffe Forest supra 1.