Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Wandeslage 1086 DB

• Wandesley 1294 ADiii

• Hoton 1190–1206 YCh558 e.13 Heal71d 1283 Ch

• Hoton in Eynesti 13 Heal22

• Hoton Wandelay 1253 Ebor 1293 QW

• Hoton in Aynsti 1254 Ch 1310

• Hoton Wandeslay 1250–81 Tockw 1269 Ebor 1277 ADiii 1478 Testiii

• Hoton Wandysley 1502 Ipm

• Hoton Wannesley 1535 VE

• Hewton 1536 MinAcct 1565 FF

• Hooton Wansley 1550 WillY

• Heaton Wansley 1651 SelbyW

• Huton Wandesley 1586 YkCR 1591 WillY

Etymology

This is a compound p.n. which arose when two manors were united, as was the case in Thornton Watlas and Kirkby Fleetham YN 235, 239. The traces of Wandesley as an independent p.n. are slight but definite.

Hutton is the common Y p.n. meaning 'farmstead on the spur of land', v. hōh , tūn , and for the dial. forms Hew - and Hea - cf. Phonol. § 30.

Wandesley may be of similar origin to Wensley YN 257, 'Wendel's clearing' with early loss of -l - through dissimilation (as also in Hessay 256, Gisburn vi, 164infra ); but the regular appearance of the p.n. as Wandes - rather suggests an OE  pers.n. Wandel (of which OE  Wændel , Wendel is a mutated variety); this form Wandel occurs in Wansford YE 95 (where loss of -l - is also quite regular except for a single spelling with Wandles -); cf. also OHG  Wandil . But the OE  byname Wand from OE  wand 'mole' (Tengvik 367) is also possible.v. lēah .