Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Wycchersley 1271–2 Ass

• Wycherley 1396 SBL3599

• Wychurley 1397–8 MGS

• Wycherley, Wicherley 1615 SBL15755

• Witcherley 1731 PR(L)

• Wyteleye 1291–2 Ass

Etymology

EPN 1156 says “A few tree-names appear to have secondary forms with a suffix -er (as hæseler from hasel , mispeler from mispel , ME medler from medle )”; and in PN NRY and PN ERY Smith derived Heslerton and (Kirby) Misperton from *hæsler and *mispeler. These etymologies were rejected in DEPN, but are accepted by Watts in CDEPN. For the present name *wicer 'wych-elm' may be tentatively proposed, but more evidence for such formations would be welcome.

Wyteleye 1291–2Ass , mentioned with Stanworhin in le Wude and

Bagleye , is probably a garbled form for Wycherley.