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.

White

Early-attested site in the Parish of Shebbear

Historical Forms

  • la Wayte 1333 SR
  • atte Wayte 1356 Exon

Etymology

This is probably, as suggested by Blomé (47), the ME  wayte , 'ambush, place where one lies in wait,' cf. atte Waytehulle (p) (1332SR ) in Dauntsey (W).