Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Wilmereslege 1086 DB

• Wilmeresley 1286 YI

• Wilmerisley l.Hy3 BM 1276 RH

• Wilmeresleia 1086 DB

• Wulmerslee 1137–9 YCh1492

• Wilmerlay, Wilmerley 1250,1288 Ebor

• Wilmersley(e), Wylmersley(e), Wylmerslay 1286 Ebor 1306 DodsN 1316 Vill 1317 Ch 1327 FF 1428 FA

• Wolmer(s)ley 1311 NCyWills 1313 Dunelm

• Wymersley 1316 Vill

• Wymmersley 1441 DiocV

• Wymbursley als. Wymbrisley 1426 Pat

• Wymbersley 1504 FF

• Wommersley 1501 Ipm

• Womerslay, Womersley 1556 WillY 1590 FF 1638 SessnR

• Woomersley 1557 FF

• Wembersley 1530 FF

• Wombresley 1556 FF

Etymology

'Wilmer's forest-clearing', v. lēah . An OE  pers.n. Wilmǣr is not recorded independently, but the two themes Wil - and -mǣr are common in other dithematic pers.ns., whilst the particular combination is paralleled by OG  Willamer . The modern form with Wom - [wum] is of recent development, as in Wombleton YN 67 (cf. Phonol. § 25), whilst the two early spellings Wlmer - and Wulmer - are due to association with the common OE  Wulfmǣr .