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.

Woolfox Wood, Woolfox Lodge

Early-attested site in the Parish of Greetham

Historical Forms

  • Wulfhus 1224 FF
  • Wlfhus 1224 Bracton
  • Wulfhous 1301 Ipm
  • Wolfhous 1296 MinAcct 1338 Pat
  • Wolfehows(s)e 1489 Ipm 1527 Surv
  • Wolveshous 1507 Ipm
  • Wool(l)fox alias Wo(o)lf(e)house 1626 Deed 1696,1697,1723 Anc
  • Woolfehouse alias Woolfox Wood 1635 Anc
  • Woolfox Lodge c1800,1806 Map
  • Wulfandun 708 BCS120(S78) 12

Etymology

The first el. is probably the OE  pers.n. Wulfa , as in Wulfandun 708 (12) BCS 120(S 78) but the el. hūs 'a house' is rarely compounded with personal names. By 1527Surv , the settlement seems to have disappeared, since we learn of pastur ' vocat ' Wolfehowsse , v. hūs . The south-east projection of Greetham parish beyond Ermine Street may encompass the original bounds of Woolfox.