Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• bruille de Wethele 1204 ChR 14th LegerBk

• wood of Wethele 1245 FF

• bruera de Wethele 1279 Nott

• Wethele 1284 Ch 1656 Dugdale

• Whetheleye 1611 WillsWo

• Waveley c.1830 O.S. c.1840 TA

Etymology

Waverley Fm and Waverley Wood is bruille de Wethele 1204 ChR, 14thLegerBk , wood of Wethele 1245 FF, bruera de Wethele 1279Nott , Wethele 1284 Ch, 1656 Dugdale, Whetheleye 1611 WillsWo, Waveley c. 1830 O.S., c. 1840TA . For further forms v. Weston under Wetherley infra 189. Professor Ekwall suggests that the first element in this name is a lost OE  wǣðe , 'hunting,' derived from wǣðan , 'to hunt.' This would be cognate with OE  wāð which is on record. For bruille cf. Broyle (PN Sx 70).