Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Wlfrunwelle 12 Font

• Wlfrunwall' 1202–10 YChviii

• Wolronwell 1198 Fount 1457, FountB

• Wolronwal 1326 WCR

• Walronwalle 1286,1324 WCR

• Wollerenwalle 1308 ib

• Wormewall 1402 HfxWills 1538 MinAcct

• Wormald 1730 Watson

Etymology

Wormald, Wlfrunwelle 12 Font, Wlfrunwall '1202–10 YCh viii, Wolronwell 1198 Fount 1457, FountB, Wolronwal 1326 WCR, Walronwalle 1286, 1324 WCR (p), Wollerenwalle 1308 ib, Wormewall 1402 HfxWills, 1538MinAcct , Wormald 1730 Watson. The name recurs in Rishworth 72infra and it is difficult to separate the spellings for the two. From the oldest spelling Wormald appears to mean 'Wulfrūn's well', from the OE  fem. pers.n. Wulfrūn and wella, the latter being mostly in its WMidl form wælla , ME  walle . It is possible, however, but less likely, if the two names have an identical origin, that the first el. is an ON  compound villiruni 'wild boar' (which survived in Scots  wolroun as a term of abuse), v. Addenda.