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.

Watermillock

Major Settlement in the Parish of Watermillock

Historical Forms

  • Wethermelok 1253 Ipm 1682 Norfolk
  • Wedermelok' 1285 For
  • Wedirmeilok in Graystok' 1340 GDR
  • Wedermeyloc 1348 Ipm
  • Wethirmelok 1359 ib
  • Weddermeloke 1487 Ipm
  • Whethermelok c.1382 Carliol
  • Wattermannok 1541 MinAcct
  • Waltermelocke 1568 PR(Greystoke)
  • Watermelocke 1572 ib
  • Watermillock 1678 CW(OS)vii
  • Waythermealocke 1643 PR(Greystoke)
  • moram de Wethermelok' 1292 Ass

Etymology

As Ekwall (DEPN) states, Millock is in origin a Welsh hill-name, paralleled in Mellock Hill, one of the Ochils. The diminutive *Moelog was applied to Little Mell Fell to distinguish it from Great Mell Fell which was called Moel , 'bare hill.' The prefix Wether , now replaced by Water , is presumably OE  weðer , '(castrated) ram.'