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.

Wilsill

Early-attested site in the Parish of Ripon

Historical Forms

  • Wifeles healh c.1030 YCh7
  • Wifleshale, Wiueshale 1086 DB
  • Wiueleshale 1154–91 RegAlbii,57d
  • Wiuelessela Hy2 ib
  • Wiuelessale 1170–9 ib
  • Wilsell' 1535 MinAcct
  • Wilsill Garth 1645 WillY

Etymology

'Wifel's nook of land', v. halh , here denoting a small valley in the steep hillside overlooking the Nidd. The first el. is either the ON  pers.n. Vífill or an OE  equivalent Wifel (cf. Wilstrop iv, 259supra ).

Places in the same Parish

Other OS name

Early-attested site