Hemplow Hills, the Hemploe
Early-attested site in the Parish of Welford
Historical Forms
- Hindeplewe 13th Selby
- Hemploe 1587 Map
- Hempley hill 1645 Deed
- Hemply Hills 1791 Bridges
Etymology
Hemplow Hills, the Hemploe is Hindeplewe 13th Selby, Hemploe 1587Map , Hempley hill 1645Deed , Hemply Hills 1791 Bridges. This is a difficult name. The early form is almost certainly corrupt. It is unlikely in itself, and could not give rise to the modern form. Ekwall (PN La 265) quoted the early form, though he was unaware of its identification, as a parallel to the Lancashire and Yorkshire p.n. Deerplay. The early forms for these last names are Derplaghe , Derplawe (13th and 14th centuries) from OE dēora -plaga , 'play-place of the animals,' with early forms going back to OE plaga , and late forms showing the influence of ME pleie , from OE plega . Hemplo (w )e must go back to OE hinda-plaga , 'play-place of the hinds.' This would give ME hindeplawe which, by confusion with ME hindepleie , might give a form hindeplewe , and, by reason of the common transition of ME lawe , 'hill,' to ModEng lowe , might give ModEng Hemplo (w )e . For variant ME plawe , pleie , Plaw Hatch (PN Sx 329).