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.

Wold

Early-attested site in the Parish of Witchford

Historical Forms

  • Walde 1170 LibEl c.1200 ElyE
  • (le) Wold(e) c.1195,13th ElyE 1281 Cl 1298 Ass 1303 Sacr
  • le Would 1541 MinAcct
  • le Woold t.Hy8 Rental
  • Weld' 1221 ElyA
  • le Longewold 13th ElyCh
  • Brodwold 1386 Wren
  • Brun(n)eswold 13th ElyM c.1300 ElyCh
  • Brounesweld 1312 ElyCh
  • Mepale weales 1589 SewersD

Etymology

Wold (lost) is Walde 1170 LibEl, c. 1200ElyE , (le ) Wold (e )c. 1195, 13thElyE , 1281 Cl, 1298Ass , 1303 Sacr, le Would 1541MinAcct , le Woold t. Hy 8Rental , v. weald . This name survived until the end of the 18th century as the name of “some arable and pasture lands near Witchford” (Bentham 75). It was the name for an extensive tract covering approximately the whole of the high clay-lands of the Isle of Ely proper, survivals of which are found in Woolden Lane in Haddenham and Waller Fen in Sutton supra 232, 240. Other references are found in Wilburton, Witcham, Mepal, Downham and Ely: Weld '1221ElyA (Ely), le Longewold 13thElyCh (Ely), Brodwold 1386Wren (Downham), Brun (n )eswold 13thElyM , c. 1300ElyCh , Brounesweld 1312ElyCh (Witcham), Mepale weales 1589SewersD .For Brunneswold cf. Leighton Bromswold (PN BedsHu 245–6) and Newton Bromswold (PN Nth 193–4). The association of the name Brūn with two such forest areas is noteworthy. For weald as the name of another large area cf. Croydon Wilds supra 54 and Introd. xxvi.

Places in the same Parish

Major Settlement