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.

Trullwell

Early-attested site in the Parish of Minchinhampton

Historical Forms

  • Trolwell(e) 1240–50,1270 Spillm 1307 MchCust
  • Trollewell(e) 1400 Rent 1411 MinAcct
  • Trewell (sic), Trolwell Ric2 Rent

Etymology

Trullwell, Trolwell (e )1240–50, 1270 Spillm, 1307 MchCust, Trollewell (e )1400Rent , 1411MinAcct , Trewell (sic), Trolwell Ric 2Rent . The first el. is ambiguous, but could be an early example of e.ModE  trolle , trulle , a variant of ME  trowelle 'trowel' in the sense of Lat  trulla 'scoop' (used with OE  wella 'well' in much the same way as was OE  byden 'vessel' or canne 'can, cup') or preferably e.ModE  trowle , trulle 'a trollop, a strumpet' (NED s.v. trull ) used with wella to denote a well where such women were ducked; the latter seems more likely.