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.

Waterfall

Early-attested site in the Parish of Pontefract

Historical Forms

  • (the) Waterfal(l) c.1204,c.1230,1235 Pont 1480 MinAcct 1552 TestLds
  • Waterfal(l) field 1800 EnclA
  • Watrefal c.1220 Pont
  • le Watyrfall 1437 Surv
  • Waterfalle closes 1541 MinAcct

Etymology

Waterfall (lost), (the ) Waterfal (l )c. 1204, c. 1230, 1235 Pont, 1480MinAcct , 1552 TestLds, Waterfal (l ) field 1800EnclA 146, Watrefal c. 1220 Pont, le Watyrfall 1437Surv , Waterfalle closes 1541MinAcct 84.v. water-(ge)fall 'waterfall'; the original topography is obscured in the built-up area near the monastery, but there are still springs in the neighbourhood.