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.

Wiltshire

Volume edited by : J. E. B. Gover, Allen Mawer, F. M. Stenton 1939

Historical Forms

  • Wilsætan 800,878 ASC 9th
  • Wilsæte 800,878 ASC 12th
  • Wiltunscir 898 ASC 9th BCS912 955 14th
  • (to) Wiltunescire c.1000 KCD716 c.1225
  • Wiltescire 1086 DB
  • Wiltescira 1130 P 1367 ADv
  • county called le Wiltshire 1447 Pat
  • Wilsher' 1523 SR 1606 Sess
  • W(h)ileshire c.1540 L
  • Wilshere 1565 DuLa

Etymology

On the significance of the name v. Introd. xvi, xvii. Locally the name of the county is still often heard as [wilʃər]. Cf. the surname Wilsher .