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.

Worksop

Major Settlement in the Parish of Worksop

Historical Forms

  • Warchesoppe, Werchesope 1086 DB
  • Werchessop 1183 P
  • Wercheshope 1186,1187 P
  • Werkessop(e) 1196,1197 P
  • Werkeshop' 1202 ib
  • Werksop 1268 Pat
  • Werkensop c.1540 L
  • Wirkesop(e) t.Hy1 Dugdvi c.1190 Dane 1332 Ipm
  • Wirksoph 1226 DbCh
  • Wirkeshop(e) 1237 Cl 1301 Ebor
  • Wyrkeshop(e) 1248 ib
  • Wircsop 1231 Bracton
  • Wirichsob 1251 RegAntiq
  • Wircsop(e) 1275 RH
  • Wyrkesoppe 1280,1283 Ebor
  • Wirksop 1301 Orig 1302 FA
  • Warksop 1268 Pat 1660 StJ
  • Worksopp 1332 Ipm
  • Wurksoppe 1535 LP
  • Wyrshop 1340 Pat
  • Wyrsop 1354 Ipm
  • Wirsop 1394 FF
  • Wirssope 1434 Pat
  • Worsop 1462 Pat
  • Woorsopp 1585 FF
  • Worksoppe al. Worsoppe 1571 Recov
  • Worksop al. Worsope 1741 ib

Etymology

The first element is clearly the same personal name We (o )rc , Wyrc which is found in Worsall (PN NRY 173), Worsborough (PN WRY 211), Wirksworth (PN Db 271) and an unidentified Wyrcesford in the Historia Sancti Cuthberti (c. 1050). wyrc is a common form of OE  weorc . The masculine name Weorc is unrecorded, but the feminine name Werca (Verca ) is found in Bede's Life of St Cuthbert . Hence 'Werc or Wyrc 's hop or valley.'