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.

Wembley

Early-attested site in the Parish of Harrow

Historical Forms

  • (æt) Wemba lea 825 BCS384
  • Wambeleg' 1249 FF
  • Wambele 1282 MxRec 1294 Ass
  • Wambeley(e) 1334 MxRec 1401 Cl
  • Wembele 1282 MxRec 1368 Cor
  • Wemblegrove 1418 Harrow-Rec
  • Wemlee 1387 HarrowRec
  • Wemley 1508 FF
  • Wembley 1535 VE
  • Whemley Grene 1562 FF
  • Wymeley al. Wemley 1562 FF

Etymology

'Wemba 's or Wæmba 's clearing,' v. leah . The personal name is not on record, but would be a nickname derived from OE  wamb , 'belly.' Ekwall (DEPN s. n .) notes Wamba , the name of a Gothic king.