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.

Welland

Major Settlement in the Parish of Welland

Historical Forms

  • Wenelond 1182 RBB 18th
  • Weneland 1190 Ch 1335 Cl 1233
  • Wenland c.1197 Thomas 18th FF 1649
  • Wentland 1275 SR
  • Wennelond 1299 RBB 18th
  • Wenlond(e) 1326 SR 1428 FA 1535 VE
  • Wenlone 1328 FF

Etymology

No definite suggestion can be made with regard to this name.There is evidence for OE  pers. names in Wēn - (v. Searle), and there may have been a pet-form Wen (n )a formed from such (cf. Wennanstan BCS 476). This would suggest interpreting the name as 'Wēna 's land,' v. land . On the other hand it may be more than a coincidence that the Welland Brook and the Wyndbrook (v. supra 17), earlier Wenbroc , join one another and flow into the Severn, in which case we probably have to do with some non-English element.

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site