Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Wirintorp 1221 YChviii

• Wyrinthorp 1324 Arm 1368 BM

• Wyrenthorp 1342 DodsN

• Wyfrunthorp 1260 Font

• Wyverinthorp 1276 RH

• Wyverunthorp 1284 ADiii

• Wyveromthorp 1309 WCR

• Wyuerumthorp 1323 ib

• Wyrunthorp(e) 1285–1327 WCR

• Wyrumthorp(e) 1286 ib

• Wyrnthorp(e) 1309 YDi 1325 WCR 1350 BM 1351 DodsN 1362 BM

• Wirnethorp(e), Wyrnethorp(e) 1353,1363 FF 1406 Pat 1425 DodsN

• Wern(e)thorpe 1309 YDi 1359 BM

• Wrenthorp(e) 1407 Pat 1458 DodsN 1499 WCR 1518 FF 1709 WMB

• Wiverona uxor Eueracri de Gipeswic 1130 P

Etymology

'Wifrun's outlying farmstead', v. þorp . An OE  fem. pers.n. Wīfrūn is not recorded, but Searle cites an early ME Wiverona uxor Eueracri de Gipeswic 1130 P. The rare theme Wīf - is known from such OHG  names as Wifhildis , and -rūn is common in OE  fem. pers.ns. like Ælfrūn , Leofrūn or ON  Gúðrún . The later contraction to Wirne -, Werne - and metathesis to Wren - is to be noted (cf. Warrengate 165infra ).