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.

Whimple

Major Settlement in the Parish of Whimple

Historical Forms

  • Winpla 1086 DB
  • Winpol, Wunpol, Wimple 1238 Ass
  • Wimpell 1218 Pat
  • Wympel 1274 Ipm 1291 Tax
  • Wimpel 1285 FA
  • Wynpel Sē Marie 1296 FF
  • Hwympel 1292 Ipm
  • Whympel 1391 Exon

Etymology

Whimple was originally a stream-name (v. Southwhimple supra 575), the name being a compound of the British words corresponding to W  gwyn , 'white' and pwll , 'pool.' v. Ekwall RN 456. That this was so is made certain by the fact that there was a place called Wympelwell in parochia de Taleton (1281Ass 1249 m 1) referring to the spot where the stream rises in Talaton parish.