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.

Hinderwell

Major Settlement in the Parish of Hinderwell

Historical Forms

  • Hildrewelle, Ildrewelle 1086 DB
  • Hilderwell(e), Hylderwell(e) 1139–48 YCh 1475 Pat
  • Hildrewell 1347 Pat 1348 FF 1404 YI
  • Hynderwell, Hinderwell 1468 Test 1490 Ipm 1573 FF 1665 Visit

Etymology

'Hild's well' v. w(i)ella. The name was probably originally OE  *Hildewella , containing the name of the famous Saint Hild of Streoneshalch , whose monastery was a few miles to the southeast of Hinderwell. The present form of the name, however, points to a Scandinavianising of the name on the analogy of ON  Hildr , gen. Hildar , found in Hinderskelfe 40supra . There is still a well at Hinderwell called St Hilda's Well. Cf. also a lost Hildekelde , fons sancte Hilde (12 Guis) in Guisborough.

Places in the same Parish

Major Settlement