Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• (æt) Wellan 963 BCS1128 12th

• æt wyllan 970 BCS1267

• et Willan 970 LibEl 12th

• Wyllan 973 Thorney 14th

• Welles 974 BCS1310 c.1350 ChronRams 1077–1130 Pat 12th 1368

• Wellis 14th Walden

• Welle 1086 InqEl 1549 Pat

• Welle immo Vpwelle 1285 Ass

• Upwell(e) 1221 ElyA

• Up(p)ewell(e) 1269 Pat 1287 FF 1298 Ass 1480

• Opwell(e) 1301 1376 Elien

• Waterwell in 1342 (Cl)

Etymology

Upwell, like Outwell supra 276, with which it once formed a whole (hence the plural forms), is on the Old Croft River (supra 9), aqua de Welle 1250Ass , from which both Upwell and Outwell, with Welney (Nf), were named. It is partly in Norfolk. Up because farther upstream than Outwell. Cf. Waterbeach supra 184. Either Upwell or Outwell is referred to as Waterwell in 1342 (Cl).