Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Helewill 1212 Fees

• Helewoll(e) 1243 WinchCath l13 SR 1332

• Helewell(e) 1259 Ch 1275 RH 1284 Ch 1285 Ass 1288

• Hellewell(e) 1249 Acct 1256 Ch 1258 RH 1275 Ass 1280,1288 MinAcct 1295,1324 FF 1449

• 'Hellewelle by Upwey' 1425 Cl

• Hellewull(e) 1249 Acct 1288 Ass

• Hellewyll 1280 ib

• Hellewolle 1285 FA 1322,1328 MinAcct

• Ellewyll 1376 Misc 1457 Ct

• Ellewell 1464 DCMCt 1465,1481

• Elwell 1460 Ct 1464 DCMCt

• Helwell 1492 Pat

• Elwell or Ridgeway 1795 Boswell

• Elway alias Stotingway 1643 Hutch3

Etymology

'The sound, healthy spring', or 'the spring which heals or gives good health', from wella (WSax  willa, wylla ) and either hǣle adj. 'hale, safe', or hǣlu 'health, healing' (thus Fägersten 160); alternatively 'the wishing well', with hǣl 'omen, good fortune' as first el. (thus Ekwall DEPN). The reference is probably to the spring called Wishing Well infra where R. Wey rises ½ mile WNW from here, but the reference could be to a different spring (e.g. that marked 6″ just W of Elwell). Cf. foll. and Ridgeway infra .