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.

Wreaks Bridge, Wreaks Mill

Early-attested site in the Parish of Hampsthwaite

Historical Forms

  • Wreakes 1666 PRHmp
  • Rakes or Wreaks 1822 Langd
  • Rakes Mill 1817 M
  • Wreck(e)holm(e) 1576 Wheater 1767 Comm

Etymology

Wreaks Bridge, Wreaks Mill, (les ) Wrekes 1. 12 Font, 1379 PT (p), Wreakes 1666 PRHmp, Rakes or Wreaks 1822 Langd, Rakes Mill 1817 M. The bridge crosses the R. Nidd above the mill. Nearby on the other side of the river was Wreck (e )holm (e )1576 Wheater, 1767 Comm. The origin of the name is obscure but it might possibly be an ON  *vrek (i ) 'wreck, wreckage' (Icel  rek (i ) 'jetsum').

Places in the same Parish

Other OS name

Early-attested site