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.

Great Mell Fell

Early-attested site in the Parish of Hutton Soil

Historical Forms

  • Melfel 1279 Ass
  • Melfell in Hoton John 1339 GDR
  • Melefell 1393 ib
  • Great Mele Fell 1487 Ipm
  • Mellfell 1555 NB
  • Westermellfel 1589 LRMB
  • Mele Fell 1487 Ipm
  • Mellfell 1583 PR(Watermillock)
  • Little Mellfell 1789 Clarke

Etymology

This is probably a British hill- name identical with Welsh  moel (*mēlo -), 'bare, bare hill,' common in place-names. To this was later added ON  fiall. Great Mell Fell is west in relation to Little Mell Fell. Cf. Mellfell in Murton (We), Mealfell c. 1690Machell , a similarly shaped fell.