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.

Weasdale

Early-attested site in the Parish of Ravenstonedale

Historical Forms

  • Wels(s)dall 1581–1607 PR
  • Welesdaill 1626 PR
  • Weelsdaill 1628 PR
  • Weesdal(l), Weesdaile 1643–1684 PR 1747 NWm
  • Wesdale, Wesdaille 1645,1670 PR
  • Weasdale 1655 FF 1777 M
  • Weesledale 1795 PR

Etymology

Probably 'weasel valley' from OE  wes (u )le and dæl, as suggested by the last form. The development and loss of -el - is paralleled by some spellings of Hazelslack (i, 70supra ) as Hels -, by Hessay (YW iv, 256) and other p.ns. (cf. YW vii, 94 §55, Gl iv 76 §47), and possibly of Helsington (i, 108supra ).

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Other OS name

Major Settlement