Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Wernayl 1225 Scotland

• Warnel 1231 Cl

• Warnell' 1232 Pipe

• Warnhill 1272 For 1346 GDR

• in Inglewode 1332 Ipm

• Warnhull 1330 Fine 1363 Ipm

• Warhill 1332 Cl

• Warnehill 1333 ib

• Warnhalle 1681 PR(Dalston)

• costere de Warnel 1231 Pat

• Warnelfell 1777 NB

• Warnallhall 1677 Rental

Etymology

Ekwall (Studies, 67–8) would explain most names with initial warn as containing OE  wærna , a metathesised derivative from wrǣnna , the gen. pl. of OE  wrǣna , 'stallion,' and this may be the first element in Warnell. If so, the name would mean 'hill where stallions graze.'The oldest form, however, points to a different interpretation. OE  wernægel , ModEng warnell , wornel , is used of the hard tumour on the back of cattle, produced by the larva of the warble-fly. This may well have been used as a nickname for a hill; it would soon develop to warnel (l ) and this in its turn be interpreted as a reduction of warnhill , possibly assisted by the idea that this meant 'watch-hill' (cf. H ii, 412). For such a nickname cf. the use of wen in such names as Wanbarrow (PN Sx 275) and Wanborough (PN Sr 151, PN W 283).