Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Wenesse 1190,1194 P

• Weners 1247–8 Ass

• Wenhyrsc, Wonnersh' 1284 ib

• Wenerssh 1397 AD

• Wymerch' 1327 SR

• Wimish 1607 Norden

• Winnersh 1617,1651 PubLib

Etymology

The second el. is ersc 'stubble-field, ploughed field'. For the first, Ekwall (DEPN) and Smith (Elements) give winn 1 , wynn 'meadow, pasture'. The phonological development is uncertain, as -e - in the early forms may be miscopied for -o - and vice versa. If Wen - is correct, the development may be compared with that in Windridge (Hrt 92, considered by the same authorities to contain this el.), Winch Nf (DEPN) and Winford PN Wt 173–4, which have ME  forms in Wen -. ME  forms in Won - occur in Wonford and Womberford D 441, 625. Assuming the etymology to be correct, it is still difficult to attach a precise meaning to a compound of winn and ersc . It might describe an estate where there was an unusually low proportion of arable land to meadow. Roughly half the area of the parish consists of flat ground in a bend of the R. Loddon.