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.

Wantley Fm

Early-attested site in the Parish of Henfield

Historical Forms

  • Wantelei 1086 DB
  • etfreq 1333 SAC40,108
  • Wanetlee 1199 FF

Etymology

The pers. name Want is on record in LVD and lies behind Wansley (D), Wanteslegh 1238Ass . We have here probably the weak form Wanta . Cf. OGer  Wanito , OHGer Wanzo (Förstemann PN 1526). Hence, 'Wanta 's clearing,' v. leah .Cf. the Sussex field-name Wantingmere (1285).