Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Humbnel (sic) 13 Ripi

• Humberwell 1355,1380,1504 Ripiii

• Houmberwell 1409 ib

• Humbrewell 1420 ib

• Hunbyrwell 1426 ib

• Hum(m)well 1536 ib

• Hum(m)well Carr 1686 RipQS

• Hummerhill 1698 YAS

Etymology

Humberwell (lost), Humbnel (sic)13 Rip i, Humberwell 1355, 1380, 1504 Rip iii, Houmberwell 1409 ib, Humbrewell 1420 ib, Hunbyrwell 1426 ib, Hum (m )well 1536 ib, Hum (m )well Carr 1686RipQS , Hummerhill 1698YAS 129. This is probably an old stream-name of similar origin to the many Humbers which Ekwall discusses in RN 201 ff and derives from a Brit  *sumbro - 'the good river or water', v. wella 'spring'. The location is not known, but it is described as in campo Rypona (Rip i, 266); this may be the same as Ripon Field 177infra , in which case Humberwell would be in Bishop Monkton.