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.

Wadley

Early-attested site in the Parish of Great Faringdon

Historical Forms

  • Wadele 1242–3 Fees 1317 Pat 1401–2 FA
  • Wadelegh' 1278–9 RH
  • Wadel' 1284 Ass
  • Waddeleye 1353 Pat
  • Wadley 1354 ib
  • Wadleye, Wodeley 1362 ib
  • Wadle 1436 Fine

Etymology

Wadley, Wadele 1242–3 Fees, 1317 Patet freq to 1401–2 FA, Wadelegh '1278–9 RH, Wadel '1284Ass , Waddeleye 1353 Pat, Wadley 1354 ib, Wadleye , Wodeley 1362 ib, Wadle 1436 Fine, probably 'Wada's clearing', v. (a)h, but the form from 1362 might indicate a first el. wāden 'growing with woad'.