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.

Whomerley or Humbly Wood

Early-attested site in the Parish of Stevenage

Historical Forms

  • Homele, Homelegate t.Hy3 WDB
  • Homele 1287 Ass
  • Homleye, Homlefeld 1413,1422 WAM
  • Homleys 1468 IpmR
  • Homeleys c.1840 TA

Etymology

Whomerley or Humbly Wood is Homele , Homelegate t. Hy 3WDB , Homele 1287Ass (p), Homleye , Homlefeld 1413, 1422WAM , Homleys 1468 IpmR, Homeleys c. 1840TA . The modern form is corrupt. The name is evidently a compound of ham and leah , referring to a clearing or wood near the home estate or mansion. There are the remains of a homestead moat (VCH iii, 140). For a discussion on the element ham in such compounds, cf. PN Sx 258, s. n. Homewood House.