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.

Wilkershaw

Early-attested site in the Parish of Uppingham

Historical Forms

  • Wulgareshag 1238 Pat
  • Wulgareshagh 1282 Cl
  • Wilgershaw 1414 Pat
  • Wyllgeshaw 1560 Ct
  • Wilkershaw 1688 Anc 1696 Bir 1728 Asw 1736,1746 Bir 1799 Deed
  • Wilk(e)sawe 1634 Terrier
  • Wilkeshaw 1705 ib
  • Wilkersey c1725,1781 Bir
  • Willcausey 1720,1723,1749 Terrier
  • Wilcausey 1730 ib
  • Wilkcausey 1744 ib
  • Wilkershaw Cowpasture 1804 Map

Etymology

Probably 'Wulfgār's enclosure', with OE  haga1 as the second element. However, OE  scaga 'a copse, a small wood' is possible as the generic, although this is rarely compounded with personal names and early spellings with -ss - indicating the genitive plus the s of scaga are absent, v. Elements 2100s. v. sceaga , Shy Close in f.ns. (b) infra and Shaw Hills in Lyddington f.ns. (b).