I found the word Wherewickshire in a paper by Oliver Heslop on whom I am currently writing a biography and wonder if you could help me with the root of the word? It was the name given to the land lying between the rivers Tyne and Wear and could possibly be Anglo-Saxon in origin but I am unable to verify this. It appears to have been common use from the 12th to the 19th century and was found on a map of Anglo-Saxon Durham which I believe was compiled in the 19th century.
Hi Andy, is ‘Wherewickshire’ not referring to Warwickshire? Old English wara refers to inhabitants of a place. Wic is a dwelling place or collection of dwellings. Scīr refers to a district, province or parish. Incidentally, I don’t use the word ‘Anglo-Saxon’. More on that here: https://oldenglishwordhord.com/not-anglo-saxon/
Old English Wordhord 
I found the word Wherewickshire in a paper by Oliver Heslop on whom I am currently writing a biography and wonder if you could help me with the root of the word? It was the name given to the land lying between the rivers Tyne and Wear and could possibly be Anglo-Saxon in origin but I am unable to verify this. It appears to have been common use from the 12th to the 19th century and was found on a map of Anglo-Saxon Durham which I believe was compiled in the 19th century.
I’d appreciate any help you can give me.
Best regards, Andy Bogle
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Hi Andy, is ‘Wherewickshire’ not referring to Warwickshire? Old English wara refers to inhabitants of a place. Wic is a dwelling place or collection of dwellings. Scīr refers to a district, province or parish. Incidentally, I don’t use the word ‘Anglo-Saxon’. More on that here: https://oldenglishwordhord.com/not-anglo-saxon/
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