Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Wiluelai 1086 DB

• Ulsinople (sic) 1100–14 YCh1419

• Wulwineleya 1201 OblR

• Wluineleys 1200–18 YCh1297

• Wolfiley, Wolfyley 1348 YDviii

• Wlvele(y), Wluele(y), Wlvelay 12 Riev 1193–1211 YCh 1194 BM 1195–1210 YCh 13 YDvii,viii 1232–40 BM 1274 WCR 1350 YDii

• Wlfueleia a.1194 YChvi

• Wlweley 13 YDviii

• Wlfleia, Wlfley, Wlflay c.1190 Nost36 1233 BM 1347 YDviii

• Wulueleia, Wuluelegh, Wulueley John Kirkst 1202 FF 1303 Ebor

• Vulueley a.1298 BM

• Wolflay 1292 BM 1293,1343,1345 YDviii 1342 Thn

• Wolfelay 1316 Vill

• Woluelay, Wolvelay, Wolueley 1296 LacyComp 1207 YI 1366 FF 1367 DodsN 1487 WillY

• Wollay, Wolley 1330 YDviii 1375 Pat 1379 PT 1402 FA 1541 FF

• Wulley 14 DodsN

• Woollay, Woolley 1381 1430 Testii

Etymology

'Forest-glade frequented by wolves', v. wulf (gen.plur. wulfa ), lēah ; cf. Woolley 311, iii, 80 infra . Hunter notes two references to pits for trapping wolves on Woolley Bank c. 1257, “foveam in Wlvelaiaclif ” and “Wlfpit …super colles de Wlvelei ” (Hnt ii, 383). In the earlier spellings there is some hesitation between the sg. form wulf (in Wlflay , Wolflay ) and the gen.plur. wulfa (in W (u )luelay , Woluelay ).The spellings with Wluine -, Wolfi -, and the curious Ulsinople (perhaps for Ulfine -) probably reflect an alternative form from the OE fem. wylfen 'she-wolf', as does the DB Wilue -.