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.

Wheldale

Early-attested site in the Parish of Ferry Fryston

Historical Forms

  • Weldale 1086 DB 1252 Ipm
  • Wluedale (sic) c.1192 Pont
  • Queldale, Queldal(am) 1086 DB c.1090 Pont 1220 Cur 1246 Ass4 1316 Vill 1604 FF
  • Quendale 1226 FF
  • Quelledale 1243 Fees
  • Wheldale 1419 Testi 1489 WillY 1522 Testvi 1547 FF

Etymology

'Wheel valley', v. hwēol , dæl , referring to a bend in the course of the R. Aire here. Cf. also Wheldon Wood infra . On the Qu -, Wh - spellings v. Phonol. § 39.