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.

Hessle

Major Settlement in the Parish of Wragby

Historical Forms

  • Hasele, Asele 1086 DB
  • Hesal 1119–35 Nost7d
  • Hesel(a) 12 Nost 1215 YCh1428 1255–77 ChR
  • Hesella 1189 Nost4
  • Hesil(l), Hesyl 1277–91 Nost168d 1370 Baild 1397 TestLds 1577 DodsN
  • Hassell 1527 FF
  • Heysyll 1532 FF
  • Hesle 1558 WillY
  • Hessell 1587 WillY 1665 Visit

Etymology

'The hazel-tree', v. hæsel , cf. Hessle YE. The predominant Hesel form doubtless represents the substitution of the cognate ON  hesli (cf. Phonol. §1).