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ArchivesRe: Wheadle or Wheedle?
in reply to a message by Ellie
There is a minor North Yorkshire place name, Wheedale, not to be confused with Wheeldale, which is not far away. There is also a surname, Wheedale, which, like Wheedle and Wheadle, is too rare for anyone to take an interest in. It's likely that all three surnames have a common origin.
As for the meaning, dale is another word for a valley, and Whee is beyond my ken.
As for the meaning, dale is another word for a valley, and Whee is beyond my ken.
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I think it's very possible that the "Whea" could stand for "wheat." The original meaning could be "valley of wheat." Removing the "t" at the end would've made it easier to pronounce since both T and D have similar sounds. Eventually, the dale was shorted to dle. That's just my guess.
Although, isn't "whi" the Anglo-Saxon word for "white"? So it could also mean "white valley."
Although, isn't "whi" the Anglo-Saxon word for "white"? So it could also mean "white valley."
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