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.

Wetherley Hundred

Hundred in the County of Cambridgeshire

Historical Forms

  • Wedrelai 1086 DB
  • Wederlai 1086 InqEl
  • Wederlea 1166–93 P
  • Wederle 1168,1172 1478 Pat
  • Woderle 1167 P
  • Weđerlai 1086 InqEl
  • Weđerle(a) 1169 P 1171–5 ib
  • Wetherle(e) 1218 SR 1401 FA
  • Wetherly(e) 1381 Ass 1570 SR
  • Whetherley 1478 IpmR
  • Weatherly 1660 EAvi
  • Werleia 1086 ICC
  • Werle 1185 RotDom 1236 Barnwell
  • Werele 1268 Ass
  • Wherley 1474 MinAcct
  • Werdeslea 1174 ChancR
  • Wether(e)sle 1236 Barnwell 1268 Ass
  • Wethesle 1279 RH
  • Wethele 1327 SR
  • Wereslea 1199,1200 P
  • Weresle 1275 RH
  • Weyeresle 1268 Ass
  • Wetherle(e) c. 1252–1373 Trinity
  • Wetherle Grene 1322 StCatharine's
  • Wetherle(e)feld 14th Queens'
  • Wedyrleweye 1402 ib.
  • Wethirlewey 1483 Trinity
  • Wetherleywey 1510 StCatharine's

Etymology

OE  weðra -lēage , 'clearing for sheep,' from OE  weðer and lēah, with occasional substitution of the gen. sing, weðres - for the gen. plur.

The hundred was named from Wetherle (e )c. 1252–1373Trinity and Wetherle Grene 1322StCatharine 's , near the Whole Way in Barrington. In Little Eversden we have Wetherle (e )feld 14thQueens ' and in Harlton, Wedyrleweye 1402 ib., Wethirlewey 1483Trinity , Wetherleywey 1510StCatharine 's .