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.

Wormhill

Major Settlement in the Parish of Wormhill

Historical Forms

  • Wruenele 1086 DB
  • Wermenhull', Wermenhil(l) 1205,1206,1207,1230 P p.1254 RegLich 1286 Cl
  • Wermehull 1101–8 RegLich 1273 LichChart
  • Wermhull 1308 Ipm
  • Wuyrminhull, Wurmenhull, Wyrmenhull, Wyrmenhille 1230 P 1251 DbAv Hy3 WollCh
  • Wurmehull(e), Wurmehill 1204 ChR 1227 Ch 1252 DbAv 1282 Ipm 1304 ChR
  • Wurmhull(e), Wurmhill 1185 P 1224 Fine 1285 For 1330 Ass
  • Wrmenhull(e) 1226 FF c.1260 BelCh 1285 For
  • Wormenhul(l), Worminhul(l) 1251 DbAv 1275 RH 1285 For 1300 FF
  • Wormehul, Wormehull(e), Wormehill, Wormehyll 1282,1285 Ipm 1302 Misc 1330 Ass Chas1 DuLa
  • Wormhull, Wormhill(e), Wormhyll 1278 FF 1298 DbCh 1302 Misc 1319 For
  • Wormyl(l) 1393 DbAxxviii 1416 Fine 17th
  • Wirnehull 1235 CartAnt

Etymology

'Wyrma's hill', v. hyll ; cf. Warmington (PN Nth 215). The earlier forms, which represent an OE  Wyrman-hyll , would not be easily accounted for by derivation from wyrm 'serpent, dragon'.