Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Aldulvebi (2x), Alduluebi 1086 LB

• Aldolbi c.1115 LS

• Aldolfbie c.1150 TYR

• Aldolfby 1299 FF 1316 FA

• Aldelfbiam (sic) 1190 Dugdvi 1301

• Aldolby 1288 Ass 1301 Ch 1327,1332 SR

• Aldelby 1331 Ipm 1343 NI

• Aldalby 1390 Cl

• Alfdolby (sic) 1313 Cl

• Adolfbi 1212,1238–43 Fees

• Adolsfby (sic) 1535 VEiv

• Audelbi 1160–62 YChiii 1287

• Audelby 1547 Pat

• Awdelbye 1546 LPxxi 1587 Yarb

• Awdelbie 1567 Pat

• Audleby(e) 1556 CA 1562–7 LNQv

Etymology

'Aldwulf's farmstead or village', v. bȳ , the first el. being the OE  pers.n. (E )aldwulf . It is noteworthy that there is no trace of the OE  genitival -es in the forms for Audleby and it is likely that the name was given by Scandinavians. Indeed, Ekwall, Selected Papers 66, assumes that the DB form in Adulve - presupposes the Scandinavian genitive -a - < -ar -. In any case the name itself suggests a preponderent Danish population in the area. See further Dorothy M. Owen, “Thornton Abbey and the Lost Vill of Audleby”, LAAS vii, 113–6.