Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Worm Stall 1761 Rocque

Etymology

Wormstall, Worm Stall 1761 Rocque. The surnames of Thomas Wormystalle mentioned 1522Queen in connection with land in Lambourn, and Henry Wormestall , mentioned 1535 VE , are probably derived from this place. The compound wyrm-steall is discussed by Forsberg, NoB xlviii (1960), 137, and by Sandred pp. 27–8 and 39–40.The modern dial. word wormstall means 'an outdoor shed or shelter into which cattle retire to avoid flies in warm weather'. OE  wyrmsteall occurs twice in charter boundaries. It is probable that in p.ns., where it is well-evidenced as a f.n., the compound refers to a place where cattle could obtain shelter from parasitic flies, for which wyrm was felt to be an appropriate word. Wormstead , possibly synonymous, occurs occasionally in f.ns. (Sandred 27).