Linchmere
Major Settlement in the Parish of Linchmere
Historical Forms
- Wlenchemere 1186 P 1200 FF 1228 Cl 1239 Perc 1240 FF 1291 Tax 1296 SR 1310 Seld20 1314 Ipm
- Wlenchesmere 1233 Cl
- Lenchmere 1332 SR
- Lenchemere 1428 FA
- Wel(l)enchemere 1428 FA 1449 SAC47,18
- Wellynchemere 1535 VE
- Wyllynchemere al. Lynchmere 1582 SRS19,288
Etymology
The mere was probably what is now known as Linchmere Marsh, to the south of the church. The first part of the name is clearly a pers. name related to Wlencing , the name in the Chronicle (s. a. 477) of one of the sons of Aella. The name here must be an unrecorded Wlenca , of which Wlencing is a patronymic derivative. Ekwall (PN in -ing 60) notes a good deal of evidence for the stem Wlanc -, meaning 'proud,' in English names.