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.

Witherslack

Major Settlement in the Parish of Beetham

Historical Forms

  • Witherslak(e), Wytherslak(e), Witherslack(e) 1186–1200 Kendii,90 1251 1267 Ch 1279 Ass9d 1283 Ipm 1292 QW 1672 PR(R)
  • Wythereslak 1256 FF
  • Whytherslak 1249 Kendii,250
  • Whitherslakes 1372 Misc
  • Werrslak 1291 Ipm
  • Wytherwerslak 1291 CWxxii,310
  • Withreslak 1352 Ipm
  • Weterslake 1390–4 Kendii,224
  • Wethersla(c)ke, Wethirsla(c)ke 1461 Pat 1539 Kendi,330 1657 Comm
  • Widerslak(k)e, Wyderslak(k)e, -slack 1513 Lowth(Ke25) 1521 Kendii,259 1718 Will

Etymology

'Hollow in the wood', v. viðr (gen.sg. viðar ), slakki . On formal grounds ON  við (gen.sg. viðjar ) 'willow, withy' is also possible.

Places in the same Parish

Other OS name

Early-attested site

Major Settlement