English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Woolthwaite

Early-attested site in the Parish of Tickhill

Historical Forms

  • Wlvathuait, Wlvatue[it] 1148,1156 YCh179,186
  • Wlvetueit 1158–66 YCh175
  • Wlvethwait 1241 Riev
  • Wlvethauyth 1254–68 Bodl35
  • Wlwait l.12 Nost56
  • Wuluethweit 1246 Ass38d
  • Wolt(h)wayt 1368 Edmunds 1379 PT 1546 YChant
  • Wollethwayte 1424 YDx
  • Woulwheite 1546 FF
  • Woolfit 1817 M
  • Wolfit 1822 Langd

Etymology

'Clearing infested by wolves', v. úlfr (gen.pl. úlfa ), þveit , and cf. Outhwaite La 181 of similar origin. The latest forms in -fit represent a common dial. development of thwaite .