Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• lnchelemor(e) Hy2 BM c.1190–1207 YCh492

• Inkelesmor(e) Hy2 BM 1303,1305 Pat 1374 Ipm

• Inklesmore, Inklesmor(a) 13 DodsN a.1227,c.1250 Pont 1337 Ch 1362 Works

• mora de Inkles 1440 Pat

• Inclesmore 1344 YD

• Inkylsmor 1395 YDix

• Ynclysmore 1503 ib

• Inclsmore 1682 Comm66

• Enkelmore c.1189–1207 YCh493

• Enclesmore, Enclesmora 13 Selby

• Inkelmore, Inkelmora 12 Ch 1294 YCh 1190 Ch 1314 MinAcct 1324

• Incelemor 1225 Pat

• Inclemoore 1682 Comm66

• Inkle Moors 1841 TA

• Hynkelesmore Ed1 Nost 1280 Ch

• Hinkelismor 1306 AddCh

• Inglesmor(e) c.1300 Selby 1375 YDix

• Inglysmore 1546 YChant

• Ingelmore 1331 FF

• Ingilmore 1451 DodsN

• Inglemores 1615 Comm65

Etymology

This name describes a great marshy moorland which must in medieval times have extended northwards to include much of the present parish of Snaith in Osgoldcross Wapentake, for places in that parish (such as Airmyn in 1331 FF, Rawcliffe in 1344 YD, Cowick in 1682Comm 66) are described as being in or near Inkle Moors. The older form of the name is most probably Inkeles -mōr , with later voicing to Ingles -, though it is possible that the two early spellings with Enkel -, Encles - are vestiges of a still older form Enkles - which underwent the well-evidenced raising of Enk - to Ink -. So far no satisfactory explanation of either of these forms suggests itself, though if the rare ON  pers.n. Ekkill (gen.sg. Ekkils ) is an OWScand  assimilated form of an older Enkill , the latter would at least explain the forms, and the name would mean 'Enkil's moorland', v. mōr .This pers.n. is probably an original by-name from a PrGerm  root *ainikila -, as in OSwed  ænkil , Icel  ekkill 'widower' (cf. Hellquist, Jóhannesson s.v.); such a pers.n. might occur also in Ecklands 339, Eklesgarth (Ilkley) pt. iv. But Professor Löfvenberg suggests an OE  pers.n. *Incel , a strong form of the OE  *Incla in Incledon (D 33), with the Enk - spellings paralleled by some for Inglesham (W 28); cf. also Inkell land (Guiseley) pt. iv.