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.

Ulwell, Ulwell Fm, Ulwell Ho

Early-attested site in the Parish of Swanage

Historical Forms

  • Holewell 1236 Fees
  • Hulewlle 1268 Ass
  • Oulewell 1291 Hutch3 1326 Ext
  • Ulewel 1315 Hutch3
  • Ulewoll 1332 SR
  • Olewel(l)(e) 1323 Banco 1412 FA 1418,a1427 Hutch3 1442,1449 FF 1469 Hutch3
  • Owlewill 1457 IpmR
  • Owlewell 1575 Swan
  • Ulwell c.1500 RoyRoll 1566 Swan c.1586 Tres 1608 Swan
  • Ulway 1671 DCMDeed

Etymology

Ulwell, Ulwell Fm, Ulwell Ho (SZ 022808), Holewell 1236 Fees, Hulewlle 1268Ass (p), Oulewell 1291 Hutch3, 1326Ext , Ulewel 1315 Hutch3, Ulewoll 1332 SR (p), Olewel (l )(e )1323 Banco, 1412 FA, 1418, a1427 Hutch3, 1442, 1449 FF, 1469 Hutch3, Owlewill 1457 IpmR, Owlewell 1575Swan , Ulwell c. 1500RoyRoll , 1566Swan , c. 1586 Tres, 1608Swan , Ulway 1671DCMDeed , 'well, spring or stream frequented by owls', from ūle , wella , the last form showing confusion with weg . There is a stream here supplied by 'a remarkably clear well or spring at the foot of the chalk hill' (Hutch3 1 672, where the name is wrongly taken to be a corruption of Holywell ). Cf. also Ulwell Gap 1882 Robinson.