Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Wingeham 1086 DB

• Wiungle (sic) 1100–4 France

• Guiungle (sic) 1103–4 France

• Wighala (sic) c.1115 LS

• Winghall' 1224 Welles

• Wynghalle 1361 Pat

• Wenghal 1241–42 RRG 1275 RH

• Wenghal' 1298 Ass

• Wenghale 1254 ValNor 1281 QW 1291 Tax 1322 Ipm 1342 Fine 1407 Pat

• Wengale 1348,1352,1414,1423 Fine 1441,1443,1461 Pat

• Wynghale 1254 ValNor 1276 RH 1337 Cl 1372 Fine 1378,1382 Pat 1382 Misc 1382 Cl 1384 Fine

• Wyngal' 1276 RRGr

• Wyngale 1351,1374,1390,1391,1392,1400 Pat

• Wyngall 1435 Pat 1503,1591 Monson 1576 Saxton 1610 Speed

• Wingall a1567 LNQv 1577 Harrison 1624 Terrier 1645 Holywell 1665,1707 Monson

• Winghall' 1503 Monson

• Winghall 1824,1830 Bry

• Wenghall' 1506 Monson

• Wingle Farm 1847 TAMap

Etymology

Dr John Insley suggests that this is a “dat.sg. (i.e. used as a locative) OE  Wīgingahale 'at the halh of Wīga's followers', a formation apparently comparable to that of Rippingale, L Kest”. A parallel is provided by Wingham K, (UUigincgga ham 825–32 (Original) (S 1268), Wingeham 1086 DB, v. KPN 156, 158, DEPN s.n.). OE  *Wīga is a regular short form of such names as OE  Wīglaf , Wīgmund , etc., and corresponds to Old High German, Old SaxonWīgo . The exact sense of halh 'a nook, a corner of land' here is uncertain, but Wingale is situated in an isolated position on the edge of a low spur overlooking the R. Ancholme, so that 'raised land in marsh' would be appropriate, there being carr-land between Wingale itself and the river.

The forms recorded in France above are clearly to be discounted, but the DB spelling, repeated twice, might possibly suggest that the name was originally identical with Wingham K and that the second el. was changed from hām 'a homestead' to the dat.sg. hale of OE  halh post Domesday. There can be no certainty, however, since the DB form is not supported by any subsequent spellings.