Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• (W)itlesig c.972 ASCh

• Witlesig 973 BCS1297 14th

• Witleseie, Witt(e)leseia 1086 InqEl

• Wit(e)leseia, Wytleseia, Wit(e)leseia, Wit(e)leseie, Wit(e)leseya, Wit(e)lesey(e), Wit(e)leseye c.1120 HarlCh 1553 Pat

• Witleseye Andree, Witleseye Sancte Marie 1256 Barnwell

• Witleseye Maries 1559 Rental

• Withleseya c.1020 LibEl 12th

• Withleseie 1086 InqEl

• Withleseia, Wythleseia, Wythleseya, Wythleseie, Wythlesey(e) c.1130 ElyD 1285 Ass

• Witesie 1086 DB

• Witeseia 1086 InqEl

• Wyteseye 1291 Tax

• Wytlesheye 1234 ElyCouch

• Wythlesheye 1277 Ely

• Whytesleye 1322 Pat

• Whitleseye 1346 ib

• Wyddylsay 1518 Fenlandvii

• Wic(k)lesey or Wittlesea 1586 ChancP

• Witlesforde 13th Thorney

• Witlesmere 963–84 BCS 1128 (PN BedsHu 191)

Etymology

'Wit (t )el 's island,' v. ēg . Witil occurs as the name of a moneyer.It is a diminutive of Witta . The same personal name is found again in the parish in Witlesforde 13thThorney , in the neighbouring Whittlesey Mere, Witlesmere 963–84 BCS 1128 (PN BedsHu 191) and in Whittlesford supra 98. There were two churches here dedicated respectively to St Andrew and St Mary.