Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• on Hereles-ho c.1030 YCh7

• Hereleshow 1136 Fount

• Herleshold, Herlesholt 1086 DB

• Erlleshou 1131–3 YCh61

• Herles(h)o 1132 Fount 1140 YCh62

• Herleshau 12 Font

• Herleshou, Herleshov, Herleshow(e)' 12 Font 1132–98 Fount 1149–70 YCh67–9

• Mikilhawe 1301 YI 1540 Fount

• monte Michaelis 1457 FountBurs

• Michelhow 1464 Fount

• Mygelhow 1603 PRRip

• Mitchelhowhill 1644 WillY

• Micklehow-Hill or Michael-How-Hill 1822 Langd

• Michaelbank 1689 RipQS

• How Wood 1358 Vyner

• Ho Hill 1771 M

Etymology

The hōh (or 'hill') is a very prominent hill on the top of which are the remains of a chapel built c. 1200 by the monks of Fountains and dedicated to St Michael (YAJ xxxii, 71). The older name is 'Herel's hill', from an OE  pers.n. Herel (a ), not recorded except as ME  surname Herel (LVD fol. 60d), but found in other p.ns. such as Harlsey YN 212–13, Harling Nf, and Harlington i, 81supra ; it is a hypocoristic form of names like Herebald and corresponds to OHG  Herilo .