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.

Wych, Wych Ctg & Wych Fm, Lt Wych

Early-attested site in the Parish of Bothenhampton

Historical Forms

  • Wyche 1433 Brid
  • mes' apud le Wyche 1481 Ct
  • lib' ten' apud le Wyche 1496 1542 Hutch3
  • la Wiche 1481 Ct
  • le Wiche 1542 Hutch3
  • Wych(e) 1774 Hutch1 1795 Boswell
  • Wyke 1811 OS

Etymology

Wych (SY 470909), Wych Ctg & Wych Fm, Lt Wych, Wyche 1433Brid (p), mes ' apud le Wyche 1481Ct , 1482, lib ' ten ' apud le Wyche 1496ib , 1542 Hutch3, la Wiche 1481Ct , le Wiche 1542 Hutch3, Wych (e )1774 Hutch1, 1795 Boswell, Wyke 1811 OS, cf. Thomas de la Wyche 1349Brid , Thomas atte Wyche 1377Brid . Probably '(place at) the wych-elm', from OE  wice 'wych-elm or other tree with pliant branches'. Alternatively 'the specialized farm or building, the dairy farm,' from the palatalized form of OE  wīc.