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.

Whitchurch

Major Settlement in the Parish of Whitchurch

Historical Forms

  • (æt) Hwitecyrcan 990–2 ASCharters
  • Hwitcyrce 1012 KCD1307 13th
  • Witecerce 1086 DB 1285 Ass
  • Wicchechurch c.1110 EHRxl 15th
  • Witcherche 1167 P 1342 Gor
  • Withcheriche c.1181 Gor
  • Wythcherch, Wythecherche 1268 Ass
  • Wychyrche 1184 Os late12th
  • Wutcherch' 1202 P
  • Whitecherche 1202 P 1285 Ass
  • Whytchirche 1209–18 WellsR
  • Whitchirche 1241 FF 1245 Ch
  • Whytchurch 1285 Ass
  • Vitchirche 1218–19 AD
  • Wiccherch 1251 Cl late13th Gor
  • Wiccirch c.1272–90 BC c.1444
  • Wicherch 1284–5 FA
  • Wytlecherche, Whitlecherche 1276 Cl
  • Whychyrch 1443 Gor

Etymology

'White church,' v. hwīt , cirice . A common name, possibly denoting a church built of stone.