Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Wilebi 1086 DB 1183,1185 P 1197×1207 Dugd 1208 P 1230 ChancR

• Willebi 1190×1204 France

• Wilubi c.1130 LeicSurv

• Wiluby 1253 GildR

• Wileby 1205 RotNorm 1280 Banco

• Wyleby 1212 FF 1260 Cur 1295,1296 ShR

• Wyluby 1248 RGros 1306 LCDeeds 1329 Ipm

• Wileweby 1243 GildR 1338 Pat

• Wyleweby 1301 Ipm

• Wyl(l)ughby 1278 Banco 1304 Ipm 1352,1359 Pat 1411 Banco

• Wylugby 1305 LCDeeds 1315 GildR 1317 LCDeeds

• Wilughby 1305,1341 Banco 1346 Pat 1390 Banco

• Wilouby 1345 LCDeeds

• Wilougby 1352 ib

• Wylloby 1448 RTemple 1477 Charyte e.16

• Willoby 1518 Visit 1526 AAS

• Willoughby(e) 1507 Ipm 1510 Visit 1535 VE

• ~ Waterles 1420 Fine 1430 Pat 1579 LEpis

• ~ Waterlesse 1518 Visit 1539 MinAccts

• ~ Waterlies 1535 VE 1623 LeicW

• ~ Waterleys 1559 Pat 1610 LeicW 1925 Kelly

• ~ Waterleas 1628,1629 LML

• ~ Waterless 1807 Nichols

Etymology

'The farmstead or village at the willows', v. wilig , bȳ . Ekwall DEPN notes the common occurrence of this hybrid place-name and suggests that in most cases it is a Scandinavianized form of OE  *wiligtun 'farmstead or village where willows grow', v. wilig , tūn . Some of the names of this type may conceal an OE  *wiliga -bēag 'a circle of willow- trees', v. wilig , bēag .

As its name indicates, Willoughby is a well-watered parish. The settlement lies on gravel and clay between two arms of Whetstone Brook and has numerous large pools in its immediate vicinity. Waterless is a corrupted version of Waterleys , the ending -leys being from lǣs 'meadow land', v. wæter . Willoughby may have been afforded this affix to distinguish it from Willoughby on the Wolds just beyond the Nottinghamshire boundary to the north.