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.

Wychwood

Major Settlement in the Parish of Wychwood or Whichwood

Historical Forms

  • Huiccewudu 840 BCS432 early11th
  • Hwichewod 1230 P
  • Hwicchewod' 1237 Cl
  • Hucheuuode 1086 DB
  • Huchewode 1316 Cl
  • Wichewude 1185 P
  • Wichewode to 1362 Cl
  • Wichchewode 1217 Cl
  • Whichwde 1205 Cl
  • Wichlewude 1218 Cl
  • Wigewde 1219 Fees
  • Wuchewud 1230,2,3 Cl
  • Wychwod 1231 Cl
  • Wichwud 1247 Cl
  • Wychwode 1266 Ch
  • Whichewud 1231 Cl 1449 Eynsh
  • Quichelwud 1236 Cl
  • Whycchwod' 1247 Cl
  • Whischewod' 1260 Fine
  • Whicheswod 1275 Cl
  • Whucchewode 1280 Cl 1284 Ch
  • Whucchewod 1329 Cl
  • Whytewode, Wytewude 1285 Ass
  • Chicchewode 1298 Cl
  • Whecchewode 1302 Cl

Etymology

'Forest of the Hwicce ,' v. wudu . “This name is the only surviving memorial of the people known as the Hwicce , who in the seventh century occupied the territory now represented by Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and the western half of Warwickshire” (F. M. Stenton, Anglo -Saxon England , 43). For the tribal name v. PN Wo xv.