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.

Askerswell

Major Settlement in the Parish of Askerswell

Historical Forms

  • Oscherwille 1086 DB
  • Oscherwilla Exon
  • Oskerwell(e) 1194 P 1214 1219 Cur 1303,1346 FA
  • Oskervill' 1200 Cur
  • Oskerewell 1262 Pap 1280 Ch
  • Oskerewlle 1307 Brid
  • Oscareswell' 1185–6 P
  • Oskareswell' 1185–6 1235–6 Fees
  • Oskereswell 1201 FF 1244 Ass 1268 1268 FF 1288 Ass 1332 SR
  • Oskereswull 1269 Misc
  • Oskereswill(e) 1285 FA 1321 Brid 1324 FF 1356 Pat 1356 Weld2
  • Oskereswylle 1316 Brid
  • Oskerswelle 1303 FA
  • Oxkereswell 1394 AD
  • Eckarewell' 1206 Cur
  • Eskerwell' 1226 ib
  • Eskereswelle, Eskereswill 1285 FA
  • Eskareswolle 1291 Tax 1428 FA
  • Askereswell 1208 Cur 1340 NI 1373 Pat 1428,1431 FA 1500 Pat
  • Askereswill 1412 FA
  • Askerswill 1346 ib
  • Askerwell 1653 ParlSurv

Etymology

'Spring or stream of a man called Ōsgār', from the OE  pers.n. Ōsgār and wella, wylle . The spellings in -ch -, -k -, -c - are probably due to Anglo-Norman influence (Feilitzen 113), and the development to As -, Es - may reflect influence from the corresponding Scand pers.ns. ON  Ásgeirr and ODan  Esger .

The name of the river Asker, which flows through Askerswell, is a modern back formation from the place-name: the original name of the stream was possibly Loder , v. Loders par. infra .