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.

Wychbold

Early-attested site in the Parish of Dodderhill

Historical Forms

  • Uuicbold, Wicbold 692 BCS77 11th BCS400 831
  • Wicelbold 1086 DB
  • Wichebald 1160 P
  • Wychebaut 1283 FF
  • Wichebaud 1275,1308 Ipm
  • Wychingbald 1275 Ass
  • Whichebaud 1276 RH

Etymology

This is clearly a compound of wic and bold just as Witton infra 289 is a compound of wic and tun . The whole name means 'buildings by the wic,' referring possibly to Droitwich itself.