Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• twegen þorpas c.1030 YCh7

• Torp 1086 DB 1110–30 YCh1622

• Thorp(e) 1110–30 YCh 1140–54,13 Selby a.1266 KF 1279–81,1293 QW

• Thorp(e) Wyleby 1276 RH 1303 KF

• Thorp(e) Wilughby 1303 Aid

• Thorp(e) Welouby 1423 Baild

• Thorp(e) Willoghby 1428 FA

• Thorp(e) Willowbie 1586 FF 1658 WillS

Etymology

v. þorp 'outlying farmstead'; the other member of the twegen þorpas is probably Thorpe Hall 34 infra , and both were probably dependent farmsteads of Selby. The Willoughby family were tenants here in the thirteenth century (Selby i, 267, KF 383).