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.

Wretchwick

Early-attested site in the Parish of Bicester

Historical Forms

  • Wrechewich' 1182 AddCh 1517 DInc
  • Whercwyk 1252 Ch
  • Wechewik 1272 Ipm
  • Wrehtkewyk' 1278–9 RH
  • Wrenchewyk 1285 Ass
  • Wrechwyk 1300 Ipm
  • Wretchwike 1316 FA
  • Wretchweek 1608 Blo

Etymology

First element wrecca (the ancestor of modern wretch ), 'exile,' probably used as a personal name, cf. the recorded name Wraca .Second element wīc.