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.

Wendens Ambo

Major Settlement in the Parish of Wendens Ambo

Historical Forms

  • Wendena, Wendenā 1086 DB
  • Great Wenden 1251 FF
  • Little Wenden 1251 Ch
  • Wendon by Waldon 1360 Ipm
  • Wendon et Wendeneho 1406 ib
  • Wandenne 1206 FF
  • Wynden 1439 Pat
  • (Magna, Parva) in 1662 (M ii, 592)

Etymology

Wendens Ambo and Wendon Lofts doubtless take their name from the same valley, called Wendene , along which they lie. The first element in that name is difficult. We have no evidence for a topographical use of OE  wēne , 'beautiful,' and for that we should have expected some forms Wenedene . One possibility is that we have the word wenn (wænn ), 'hill,' found in Wanstead supra 109, the hill perhaps being the well-marked one round which the valley bends. Professor Ekwall suggests that the first element may be an OE  noun or adjective wende , 'turn, turning,' which is found in Wendy (C) and the river-name Midwyn (PN Sx 6). 'Winding valley' would suit the locality. Ambo from the union of the parishes (Magna , Parva ) in 1662 (M ii, 592). Cf. Huttons Ambo (PN NRY 40).

Places in the same Parish