Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Wenrige 1086 DB

• Windringe t.Ric1 Ch 1301

• Wyndryng 1279 FF

• Vuindring 1303 FA

• Wyndringe 1329 FF

• Winrigge 1195 P

• Winregge 1195 CR

• Wenringe 1198 FF

• Wenrenge 1287 Ass

• Winringe t.John Dugdii

• Wynryng 1279 FF

• Wynrynge 1294 SR

• Wenrug, Wenrugge 1228 Pat 1232 Bracton

• Wanrugge ib.

• Wyndrug, Wyndrugge c.1275 Gesta 1342 Ass 1428 FA 1430 Annales

• Wyndregge 1377 FF

• Wyndrigge 1389 ib

Etymology

This is a difficult name, chiefly because we cannot be sure if the second n in many of the early forms is organic or an occasional irregularity due to repetition of the n of the first element.We find such repetition in some of the forms of Thundridge infra 205, but it is nothing like so persistent there. If the n were organic we might attempt to associate the second element with OE  hring , 'ring,' but that would make it very difficult to explain the rigge , regge , rugge forms. The place stands high above the valley of the Ver and it is most probable, as suggested by Dr Ritter, that the name is a compound of OE  wind and hrycg , hence 'wind-ridge,' and that we must take the forms with a second n as irregular.