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.

Girlington Hall

Early-attested site in the Parish of Wycliffe

Historical Forms

  • Gerlin(g)ton 1086 DB 1184 RichReg
  • Girlington, Girlyngton 1251 YI c.1300 RichReg 1301 LS

Etymology

The modern pronunciation points to a medieval form Girling -; the name probably, therefore, means 'Gyrla's farm' v. ingtun .The pers. n. Gyrla is not found at all in OE, but besides entering into this name it is probably the first element of Girlington (YWR) and cognate with OSwed  p.n. Gyrlinge which Hellquist (ON -inge 42) connects with the somewhat doubtful Gurilf inferred by Förstemann (PN 713) from Gurilfesheim (8th cent.).

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Major Settlement