Wilshamstead
Major Settlement in the Parish of Wilshamstead
Historical Forms
- Winessamestede 1086 DB
- Wilsamstud a.1181 Dunst 13th
- Wyleshamstede 1220 LS 1287 Ass 1291 Tax
- Wilchamstede 1239 FF
- Wilshamstede, Wyl- 1240 FF 1276 Ass
- Wilhamstede, Wylhamstede 1242 Fees868 1247,1276 Ass
- Wilsamstede 1247 Ass
- Wilhampstede 1372 Cl
- Wyllsamsted 1526 LS
- Wilsumstead 1675 Ogilby
- Wilstead 1780 Jury
Etymology
'Wil's homestead' v. hamstede . Cf. Zachrisson, Some English PN Etymologies 4. The weak form Willa is well established. It looks as if there were also a strong form Wil formed directly from the first element of such names as Wilbeorht .
The DB form stands alone, and as AN confusion of l and n is fairly common it should probably be rejected.