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.

Wetwang

Major Settlement in the Parish of Wetwang

Historical Forms

  • Wetwangha', Wetuuangha' 1086 DB
  • Wetwanghe 1164–78 LeonardR
  • Wetewang(e) 1113–14 Selby c.1155 AddCh 1194 P 1376 FF
  • Wetewanghe 1145–56,1164–78 LeonardR
  • Wetewong(e) 1191,1197 P 1233,1310 Ebor
  • Weteweng' 1201 P
  • Wettewong 1196 P
  • Wettewang(e) 1334 BevAct 1461 Test
  • Wetwang 1297 LS 14th Sawley 1333 Deod 1492 FF
  • Weatewange 1585 FF

Etymology

wang as the second element in place-names is almost certainly of Scand origin and Lindkvist (35) rightly takes it to be a loanword from OScand  vangr 'field,' v. vangr . The first element might be OE  wæt (Angl  wēt ) 'wet,' but according to local information Wetwang is noted for its dryness. For that reason there can be little doubt of the correctness of Dr Knudsen's suggestion that Wetwang is derived from the OScand  legal term vætt -vangr (véttvangr ) 'field of summons for the trial of an action.' This explanation, with a detailed account of the topography of the place, was also put forward by E. M. Cole, Saga-book of the Viking Society , iv, 102. A. W. Johnston (ib. 106) notes the curious fact that whereas in Iceland the field would be moved for each trial, here it became definitely localised, possibly because the action was a well-remembered occasion.

Places in the same Parish

Major Settlement

Early-attested site