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.

Wendy

Major Settlement in the Parish of Wendy

Historical Forms

  • Wendeie 1086 ICC
  • Wendeie, Wendeia, Wendey(e) 1195 P 1212 Cur 1457 FF
  • Wendeye Templariorum 1256 Barnwell
  • Wendeye cum Shenegeie 1341 NI
  • Wendy(e) 1272,1298 Ass 1316 FA 1413,1450 Pat
  • Vendeia c.1180 Hosp
  • Vendeye 1347 SR
  • Wendhey(e) 1218 SR 1298 FF
  • Weyndeye 1285 Ass
  • Wending 1552 Pat
  • Wandrie 1086 DB
  • Wandei 1086 DB
  • Wandeye 1268 Ass 1280 Cl
  • Wyndey(e) c.1237 Wardon 1272 Ass 1366 Pat 1394–5 Cl 1444 ADiii
  • Windie 1588 Fenlandi

Etymology

Wendy is in a marked bend of the North Ditch near its confluence with the Cam or Rhee and the first element is probably an OE  *wende from OE  windan , 'to wind.' Wende might possibly have been the name of the North Ditch, aptly called 'the winding stream' or it might have been given to the bend. The second element is ēg . Hence 'low-lying land by the winding stream' or 'in the bend.' Cf. Wendon Lofts and Wendens Ambo (PN Ess 544, 542) and DEPN s. n. Wendy.

Places in the same Parish