Wilsthorpe
Early-attested site in the Parish of Sawley and Wilsthorpe
Historical Forms
- Wiueles-, Wyueles-, Wyveles-, Wyvelis-, -torp, -thorp(e), -throp 1169 P 1176 1220 Cur 1243 Fees
- Wyvelstorp 1335 Newstead
- Wivillistrop 1258–64 RegLich
- Wil(l)esthorp(e), Wyl(l)esthorp(e) 1258–64 RegLich 1301 FF 1322 HarlCh 1320,1323 Middleton
- Wilstorp 1349 BelCh
- Wilstrap (sic) 1767 Burdett
Etymology
'Wifel's farmstead', v. þorp , from OScand pers.n. Vífill , cf. Wilsthorpe (PN ERY 88). It is almost certain that þorp is here used in the sense 'farmstead' rather than 'village' for the place has never been of any significance.