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.

Wormley

Major Settlement in the Parish of Wormley

Historical Forms

  • Wrmeleia c.1060 WDB
  • Uurmelea 1066 CottCh
  • Wurmele 13th WalthamB 1222 Pat
  • Wormele 1253 Ch 1280 Pat 1322 FF
  • Wrmele 1307 FF
  • Wermelai 1086 DB 1317 Ch
  • Wirmeleia 13th WalthamB

Etymology

This may go back to OE  wyrma leah , 'clearing (or wood) infested with grass-snakes,' v. leah . Alternatively the first element may be a personal name Wyrma . Cf. Worminghall (PN Bk 129–30), Warmington (PN Nth 215) for other examples of Wyrma .

Places in the same Parish