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.

Whinfell

Major Settlement in the Parish of Kendal

Historical Forms

  • Quinfel(l), Quynfel(l), Qwynfel(l) 1154–89,1283,1295,1333 Kendi,222–3 1593 PR(K)
  • Quin(n)efel(l), Quynnefel(l) 1190–1220,1210–27 Cockers 1214–20 Ch 1294 Kendii,119 1243 1247 Cockers 1250–68 Ass22d 1279
  • Winfel(l), Wynfel(l) 1154–89 Ch 1294 Weth 1203 HMCx,324 1282 Comm 1657
  • Whinfel(l), Whynfel(l) c.1200 Kendi,222 1330 Lowth(Br41) 1341,1361 Ipm 1383 Lowth(Ke21) 1636 Dep
  • Whinfell in Kendale 1335,1383 Lanc 1561 Kendi,228
  • Whinfielde 1577 Harrison
  • Quenefel 1241 Kendii,118
  • Queneffeld 1256 Ass6
  • Whyn(n)efel 1246 Kendi,167 1247 FF 1279 Ass25
  • Whynyfell 1501 Ipm

Etymology

Like Whinfell (ii, 132infra ) and Whinfell (Cu 446), this means 'the hill overgrown with whins or gorse', v. hvin (ME  whin from c. 1400 NED s.v.), fjall ; on the Qu - spellings v. Phonol. §20.

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Other OS name