Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Wallerthwayt(e), Wallerthwait(e) 1198 Fount 1228 Ripi c.1260 Selby 1327 FF 1559 FF

• Wallerthuayth 1293 Font

• Wallerthweit 1340 Pat

• Wallerthawit 1342 YDi

• Wallerthwate 1493 YDvi 1496 FountPres

• Walrethwait 1300 YI

Etymology

Wallerthwaite, Wallerthwayt (e ), Wallerthwait (e )1198 Fount, 1228 Rip i, c. 1260 Selby, 1327 FFet passim to 1559 FF, Wallerthuayth 1293 Font, Wallerthweit 1340 Pat, Wallerthawit 1342 YD i, Wallerthwate 1493 YD vi, 1496FountPres , Walrethwait 1300 YI (p). This is ON  vallar -þveit 'meadow clearing', as Lindkvist 126 suggests; cf. ON  vallar -garðr , v. vǫllr (gen.sg. vallar ), þveit ; Walthwaite La 211 is a parallel name (with vǫllr in the nom.). Lindkvist notes l.ME  wallare 'wall- builder' as a doubtful alternative.