Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Winkowe 1442,1511 Cust

• Wincoe 1500 SheffMan

• Wincoe als. Wincoban(c)k, Wincoe als. Wyncoban(c)k 1587 FF 1597 SheffMan

• Wynkhaw 1523 Wheat

• Wynkobank(e), Wincobank(e), Winkobank(e) 1531 SheffMan 1560 Cust

• Winkeybanke 1560 SheffMan

• Wyncowbanke 1591 WillY

• Winkabank 1694 Wheat

• ye Banke 1693 ib

• Winkay 1694 Norf

Etymology

According to Hall (SheffMan i, 71) Winkley was the old name of Wincobank; it appears as Winkley 1345 Cust, Wynkelay , Wynkeley 1383 Ipm, 1552 SheffMan, Wi nckley (e ), Wynckley (e )1402, 1424 ib, Winklow 1506 Cust. 'Wineca's forest-clearing', v. lēah , or, if the last form is to be relied on 'Wineca's mound', v. hlāw , which is sometimes replaced by -ley . If it is from hlāw , the name must refer to the great Roman encampment on the ridge on which High Wincobank stands. The OE  pers.n. Wineca is not recorded but has been suggested from p.ns. like Winkfield Brk (Winecanfeld BCS 1127) and Winkburn Nt 197; cf. also Winksley pt. v infra .

Wincobank appears as Winkowe 1442, 1511 Cust, Wincoe 1500 SheffMan, Wincoe als. Wincoban (c )k , Wincoe als. Wyncoban (c )k 1587 FF, 1597 SheffMan, Wynkhaw 1523 Wheat, Wynkobank (e ), Wincobank (e ), Winkobank (e )1531 SheffMan, 1560 Cust 1574 FF et freq , Winkeybanke 1560 SheffMan, Wyncowbanke 1591 WillY, Winkabank 1694 Wheat, ye Banke 1693 ib, Winkay 1694Norf . This also would appear to mean 'Wineca's mound' from ON  haugr; it could hardly be a reduction of Winkley ; there is a reasonable period when both forms are current, even with the sparse material available. Wincobank must certainly refer to the remains of the Roman encampment, v. banke , cf. VCH ii, 8.