PROBABLE MEANINGS OF
Old
Place Names In and Around Sheffield
Plus origins of the first settlements from “The Ancient Suburbs of Sheffield”
By J. Edward Vickers ~Published 1871 by J.E.V. Publications, Sheffield
Village Origins
ANGLO-SAXON VILLAGES
VIKING VILLAGES
Attercliffe
Longley
Crookes
Bramley
Magathay
Grimesthorpe
Brightside
Norton
Hackenthorpe
Brincliffe
Owlerton
High Storrs
Cinderhill
Shirecliffe
Jordanthorpe
Darnall
Shiregreen
Osgathorpe
Dore
Southey
Ranmoor
Fulwood
Tinsley
Skinnerthorpe
Gleadless
Totley
Upperthorpe
Handsworth
Wadsley
Heeley
Walkley
Hurlfield
Woodseats
Place Names & Probable Meanings
Area Name
Probable Meaning
ABBEYDALE
The dale of the Abbey (Beauchief)
ATTERCLIFFE
The village at the cliff, which was probably at the bend in the River Don where Christ Church used to be until it was bombed in WW2. Aterclive in the Doomsday Book
BANNER CROSS
From the old French word Baneur meaning a standard bearer. At the time of Elizabeth I it was known as the Banner Field.
BEAUCHIEF
Name given by Norman Monks to the place they built their abbey – means beautiful headland.
BELL HAGG
From old Norse – Bale or Belle Hagi meaning a fire common.
BIRLEY SPA
Named after a spring of mineral water that was found very beneficial to health
BRIGHTSIDE
Brik’s ploughed land. Also variously called Brekesherth and Brixard
BURNGREAVE
Burn – a stream, Greave – a grove
CARBROOK
- a water meadow or marshy field next to a stream. Celtic or Saxon origin.
CARTERKNOWLE
Originally Carter-Knoll – a hill named after the Carter family
CROOKES
From the old Norse Krkor meaning a nook or corner of land
DARNALL
From Derne Halh – secluded piece of land
DORE
From the Anglo-Saxon Dor, meaning a door, pass or entrance into the Kingdom of Mercia
ECCLESALL
Probably derives from Hecksel-Hallr meaning the witches hill.
ENDCLIFFE
The elf cliff or bank. Originally called Elfcliffe.
FULWOOD
From the Anglo-Saxon Ful-Wudu – wet, marshy woodland. Also known at one time as Folewode
GLEADLESS
Old English Gilda Leah – a kite clearing in a wood
GRIMESTHORPE
Old Norse meaning an outlying farm belonging to Grim.
HACKENTHORPE
Hachen’s outlying farmstead
HANDSWORTH
Hand’s Worth – an enclosed homestead belonging to Hand. In Doomsday Book Handeswrde.
HANGINGWATER
A deep, slow-moving stream.
HEELEY
Derived from Heah Leah – a high woodland clearing. Called Heghlegh in 1343, Heghelgh in 1348 and Hamelet-de-Heyle in 1451. Called Heeley from 1553 on.
HILLSBOROUGH
Given its name by Thomas Steade of Burrowlee House as a compliment to Lord Downshire
JORDANTHORPE
Of Danish origin meaning Jourdain’s outlying farmstead.
LONGLEY
From Lang-Leah meaning long clearing
MALIN BRIDGE
Probably from Melum, meaning worn stones or pebbles in the bed of the river
MAUGERHAY
Originally Magathay
MEERSBROOK
Meers Brook means a boundary brook. The brook ran down from Norton Lees to the River Sheaf at Saxon Bridge Heeley and formed part of the frontier line between the ancient kingdoms of Northumbria and Mercia. Until recently was also the boundary between Yorkshire and Derbyshire.
MILLHOUSES
Arose from the gift of a corn mill on the River Sheaf, by Sir Robert de Ecclesall, to the abbey at Beauchief. Then it was known as the Miln Houses.
NEEPSEND
Possibly means home of the water spirits
NORTON
Derived from Nord-Tun meaning north farmstead
OSGATHORPE
Old Norse name – Osgar’s outlying farmstead
OWLERTON
Deriving from Alor-tun – a farmstead by the elders
PITSMOOR
Pits from which ore was obtained – originally called Or-pits
SHEFFIELD
Anglo Saxon name was Sceath-feld. Sceath meaning a dividing line or frontier and Feld was land near a river that was free from trees.
SHIRECLIFFE
Scir cliff - a bright, steep hillside. Also Shiercliffe
SHIREGREEN
Bright meadowland
TINSLEY
Old English word meaning Tingas Leah – Field of Council
TOTLEY
Totingelei in the Doomsday Book – a spy or watching place
WADSLEY
From the Old English Wadde’s Leah – Wadde’s forest clearing.
WALKLEY
From the old English Walca’s Leah – Walca’s forest clearing
WHITELEY WOODS
Derived from Hwit-Leah-Wudu – a bright, fair clearing
WOODSEATS
Or Norton Woodseats was originally Wodesettes
[Courtesy of: Ann Halford]
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