Waltheof

Author: SDB

Editorial Status: unknown

Discussion of the name

According to von Feilitzen, this name derives from Old Norse Valþíofr. His view was endorsed in a subsequent article (Gordon 1935) which explores the etymology of that name. Gordon argues that the first element Val- derives ultimately from Germanic *wala- meaning ‘chosen’ or ‘beloved’; and that the second element þíofr meant ‘servant’, but was understood to carry the more specialised meaning ‘servant of a god or supernatural power’ when used in personal nomenclature. Gordon’s principal purpose was to show that the name Wealhþeow which occurs in the Beowulf poem was not formed by combining the Old English name elements wealh (meaning ‘British’ or ‘foreigner’) and þeow (meaning ‘servant’ or ‘slave’). Rather, it was formed by combining Old Norse name elements which meant literally a ‘chosen servant’ devoted to a god or to a higher power: a more plausible name for a Scandinavian queen. It follows that Waltheof should not be misconstrued as a combination of Old English wealh and þeof (meaning ‘thief’), and that it would have been an appropriate name for an Anglo-Scandinavian landholder.

The name was, however, rare in Anglo-Saxon England: PASE identifies just five people of that name other than those named in Domesday Book, and three of the former (Waltheof 1, Waltheof 4 and Waltheof 6) were almost certainly the same person, an earl who held office in Northumbria in the late tenth century, and who was the great-great-grandfather of the Waltheof 2, the earl who figures prominently in Domesday Book.

Bibliography

Gordon 1935: E. V. Gordon, ‘Wealhþeow and Related Names’, Medium Aevum 4 (1935), 169–75

Forms of the name

Spellings in Domesday Book: Wallef, Walleu, Waltef, Walteif, Walteu

Forms in modern scholarship:

von Feilitzen head forms: Valþíofr

Phillimore edition: Waltheof

Alecto edition: Waltheof

Distribution map of property and lordships associated with this name in DB

List of property and lordships associated with this name in DB

Holder 1066

Shire	Phil. ref.	Vill	Holder 1066 DB Spelling	Holder 1066	Lord 1066	Tenant-in-Chief 1086	1086 subtenant	Fiscal value	1066 value	1086 value	Holder 1066 ID conf.	Show on map
Derbyshire	6,40	Brailsford	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Henry de Ferrers	Elfin 'of Brailsford'	2.00	3.00	2.00	A	Map
Derbyshire	6,41	Hollington		Waltheof, earl	-	Henry de Ferrers	Elfin 'of Brailsford'	0.19	0.00	0.00	-	Map
Derbyshire	6,41	Shirley		Waltheof, earl	-	Henry de Ferrers	Elfin 'of Brailsford'	0.19	0.00	0.00	-	Map
Derbyshire	6,58	Osmaston	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Henry de Ferrers	Elfin 'of Brailsford'	1.00	2.00	1.00	C	Map
Essex	55,1	Walthamstow	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	10.50	15.00	28.00	A	Map
Huntingdonshire	B16	Huntingdon		Waltheof, earl	-	William, king	-	0.00	3.33	3.06	D	Map
Huntingdonshire	B17	Huntingdon		Waltheof, earl	-	William, king	-	0.00	10.00	10.00	D	Map
Huntingdonshire	B17	Huntingdon		Waltheof, earl	-	William, king	-	0.00	1.00	1.00	D	Map
Huntingdonshire	B18	Huntingdon		Waltheof, earl	-	William, king	-	2.42	0.15	0.15	D	Map
Huntingdonshire	B19	Huntingdon		Waltheof, earl	-	William, king	-	0.00	0.67	0.00	D	Map
Huntingdonshire	20,9	Diddington	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	Alan the steward of Countess Judith	3.00	2.00	3.00	A	Map
Leicestershire	14,16	Houghton-on-the-Hill	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Henry de Ferrers	Godric of Houghton-on-the-Hill'	9.00	1.00	1.00	-	Map
Leicestershire	40,1	Oadby	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	9.25	2.00	3.00	A	Map
Leicestershire	40,2	Peatling Magna	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	4.00	0.75	1.67	A	Map
Leicestershire	40,3	Cosby	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	8.00	1.50	3.33	A	Map
Leicestershire	40,4	Frolesworth	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	6.00	2.00	2.00	A	Map
Leicestershire	40,5	Sharnford	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	1.00	0.13	0.13	A	Map
Leicestershire	40,6	Willoughby Waterless	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	4.75	1.50	2.00	A	Map
Leicestershire	40,7	Heather	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	4.00	0.07	1.00	A	Map
Lincolnshire	T5		Waltef	Waltheof, earl	-	-	-	0.00	0.00	0.00	-	Map
Lincolnshire	34,12	Wragby		Waltheof, earl	-	Erneis de Buron	-	0.81	14.00	10.00	D	Map
Lincolnshire	34,13	Hatton		Waltheof, earl	-	Erneis de Buron	-	5.00	0.00	0.00	E	Map
Lincolnshire	34,14	Collow		Waltheof, earl	-	Erneis de Buron	-	1.50	0.00	0.00	E	Map
Lincolnshire	34,15	Panton		Waltheof, earl	-	Erneis de Buron	-	2.00	0.00	0.00	E	Map
Lincolnshire	34,16	Hardwick		Waltheof, earl	-	Erneis de Buron	-	0.63	0.00	0.00	E	Map
Lincolnshire	34,17	West Barkwith		Waltheof, earl	-	Erneis de Buron	-	2.25	0.00	0.00	E	Map
Lincolnshire	34,18	East Torrington		Waltheof, earl	-	Erneis de Buron	-	2.50	0.00	0.00	E	Map
Lincolnshire	34,19	Langton by Wragby		Waltheof, earl	-	Erneis de Buron	-	0.25	0.00	0.00	E	Map
Lincolnshire	34,20	Fulnetby		Waltheof, earl	-	Erneis de Buron	-	3.00	0.00	0.00	E	Map
Lincolnshire	34,21	Rand		Waltheof, earl	-	Erneis de Buron	-	3.00	0.00	0.00	E	Map
Lincolnshire	34,22	Girsby		Waltheof, earl	-	Erneis de Buron	-	0.75	0.00	0.00	E	Map
Lincolnshire	34,23	Kingthorpe		Waltheof, earl	-	Erneis de Buron	-	0.28	0.00	0.00	E	Map
Lincolnshire	56,11	Market Overton	Waltef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	3.50	12.00	40.00	A	Map
Lincolnshire	56,13	Whissendine	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	Hugh de Hotot	4.00	0.00	0.00	A	Map
Lincolnshire	56,14	Eagle	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	8.00	10.00	12.00	A	Map
Lincolnshire	56,15	Thurlby		Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	7.50	0.00	0.00	A	Map
Lincolnshire	56,16	Swinderby		Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	11.00	0.00	0.00	A	Map
Lincolnshire	56,17	Exton	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	2.00	8.00	10.00	A	Map
Middlesex	24,1	Tottenham	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	5.00	26.00	28.00	A	Map
Northamptonshire	B38	Northampton		Waltheof, earl	-	William, king	Judith, countess	0.00	7.00	7.00	E	Map
Northamptonshire	56,1	Ryhall	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	1.50	6.00	6.00	A	Map
Northamptonshire	56,1	Belmesthorpe	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	1.50	0.00	0.00	A	Map
Northamptonshire	56,2	Ashley	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	0.33	0.27	0.27	A	Map
Northamptonshire	56,3	Sutton Bassett	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	0.67	0.53	0.53	A	Map
Northamptonshire	56,4	Weston by Welland	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	1.33	1.07	1.07	A	Map
Northamptonshire	56,5	Dingley	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	1.38	0.33	0.33	A	Map
Northamptonshire	56,6	Brampton Ash	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	1.00	0.27	0.27	A	Map
Northamptonshire	56,20a	Yardley Hastings	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	3.50	12.00	15.00	A	Map
Northamptonshire	56,20b	Grendon	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	3.25	0.00	0.00	A	Map
Northamptonshire	56,20c	Whiston	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	0.25	0.00	0.00	A	Map
Northamptonshire	56,20d	Denton	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	1.00	0.00	0.00	A	Map
Northamptonshire	56,20e	Hackleton	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	2.00	0.00	0.00	A	Map
Northamptonshire	56,20f	Horton	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	1.25	0.00	0.00	A	Map
Northamptonshire	56,20g	Wollaston	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	1.00	0.00	0.00	A	Map
Northamptonshire	56,20h	Brafield-on-the-Green	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	0.75	0.00	0.00	A	Map
Northamptonshire	56,20i	Quinton	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	0.50	0.00	0.00	A	Map
Northamptonshire	56,20j	Hardingtstone	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	2.00	0.00	0.00	A	Map
Northamptonshire	56,20k	Yardley Hastings		Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	0.00	0.00	0.00	-	Map
Northamptonshire	56,21	Daventry		Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	8.00	3.00	8.00	D	Map
Northamptonshire	56,22	Twywell	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	1.50	0.50	0.50	B	Map
Northamptonshire	56,22	Twywell	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	1.50	0.50	0.00	A	Map
Rutland	2,7	Market Overton and Stretton	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	3.50	12.00	20.00	A	Map
Rutland	2,11	Whissendine	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	Hugh de Hotot	4.00	8.00	13.00	A	Map
Rutland	2,12	Exton	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	-	2.00	8.00	10.00	A	Map
Warwickshire	16,35	Hillmorton	Wallef	Waltheof 'of Shilton'	-	Robert, count of Meulan	Merewine 'of Hillmorton'	0.50	0.50	0.50	A	Map
Warwickshire	16,37	Hillmorton	Wallef	Waltheof 'of Shilton'	-	Robert, count of Meulan	Waltheof	0.50	0.75	0.50	A	Map
Warwickshire	16,45	Shilton	Wallef	Waltheof 'of Shilton'	-	Robert, count of Meulan	Waltheof	2.00	2.00	2.00	A	Map
Wiltshire	25,8	Chalfield	Wallef	Waltheof 'of Chalfield'	-	Ernulf de Hesdin	-	2.50	4.00	2.50	B	Map
Yorkshire	C27	Heyworth	Waltef	Waltheof, earl	-	William, king	Robert, count of Mortain	3.00	0.50	0.53	E	Map
Yorkshire	5N24	Eston	Waltef	Waltheof, earl	-	Robert, count of Mortain	Richard de Sourdeval	9.00	2.00	0.00	E	Map
Yorkshire	5N36	Newsham in Amotherby	Waltef	Waltheof, earl	-	Robert, count of Mortain	-	1.50	0.00	0.00	E	Map
Yorkshire	5N43	Cawton	Waltef	Waltheof, earl	-	Robert, count of Mortain	-	3.00	0.00	0.00	E	Map
Yorkshire	5N44	Scackleton	Waltef	Waltheof, earl	-	Robert, count of Mortain	-	1.50	0.00	0.00	E	Map
Yorkshire	5N45	Barton-le-Street	Waltef	Waltheof, earl	-	Robert, count of Mortain	Richard de Sourdeval	8.00	1.00	0.50	E	Map
Yorkshire	5N46	Fadmoor	Waltef	Waltheof, earl	-	Robert, count of Mortain	-	5.00	0.50	0.00	E	Map
Yorkshire	5N55	Terrington and Wiganthorpe	Walteif	Waltheof, earl	-	Robert, count of Mortain	-	3.75	0.50	0.00	E	Map
Yorkshire	5N62	Crambe	Waltef	Waltheof, earl	-	Robert, count of Mortain	-	4.00	0.50	1.00	E	Map
Yorkshire	5N65	Whitewell-on-the-Hill	Waltef	Waltheof, earl	-	Robert, count of Mortain	-	5.00	1.58	0.12	E	Map
Yorkshire	5N72	North Kilvington	Waltef	Waltheof, earl	-	Robert, count of Mortain	-	2.00	0.00	0.00	E	Map
Yorkshire	5N75	North Lilvington and Upsall in South Kilvington andHundulthorpe	Waltef	Waltheof, earl	-	Robert, count of Mortain	-	11.00	0.00	0.00	E	Map
Yorkshire	5N76	Upsall		Waltheof, earl	-	Robert, count of Mortain	Richard de Sourdeval	0.00	0.00	0.00	-	Map
Yorkshire	5E62	Rillington		Waltheof, earl	-	Robert, count of Mortain	-	2.25	0.00	0.00	-	Map
Yorkshire	5E64	Barthorpe	Walteu	Waltheof, earl	-	Robert, count of Mortain	-	6.00	0.00	0.00	D	Map
Yorkshire	5E65	Howsham and Sudnicton in Westow	Walteu	Waltheof, earl	-	Robert, count of Mortain	-	14.00	4.00	4.00	E	Map
Yorkshire	5E66	Kirkham	Walteu	Waltheof, earl	-	Robert, count of Mortain	-	8.00	3.00	2.00	E	Map
Yorkshire	5W38	Cundall and Norton-le-Clay	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Robert, count of Mortain	Alfred ''of Cundall'	21.00	4.00	1.00	E	Map
Yorkshire	10W41	Hallam	Wallef	Waltheof, earl	-	Judith, countess	Roger de Bully	29.00	5.33	2.00	A	Map
Total								314.48	205.73	260.96

Lord 1066

Shire	Phil. ref.	Vill	Lord 1066 DB Spelling	Holder 1066	Lord 1066	Tenant-in-Chief 1086	1086 subtenant	Fiscal value	1066 value	1086 value	Lord 1066 ID conf.	Show on map
Bedfordshire	23,17	Aspley Guise	Wallef	Leofgifu 'of Aspley'	Waltheof, earl	Hugh de Beauchamp	Acard d'Ivry	10.00	10.00	8.00	A	Map
Bedfordshire	40,3	Totternhoe	Wallef	Leofwine Cild	Waltheof, earl	William the chamberlain	-	6.75	8.00	2.50	A	Map
Bedfordshire	53,31	Southill	Wallef	Tuffa, the man of Earl Waltheof	Waltheof, earl	Judith, countess	Hugh de Beauchamp	1.00	3.00	1.50	A	Map
Buckinghamshire	5,10	Tyringham	Wallef	1 thegn, man of Earl Waltheof	Waltheof, earl	Geoffrey, bishop of Coutances	Ansketil 'of Tyringham'	2.50	2.79	2.33	A	Map
Buckinghamshire	53,2	Weston Underwood	Wallef	Wulfric 'of Weston Underwood'	Waltheof, earl	Judith, countess	Ansketil 'of Tyringham'	0.75	1.00	0.50	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	1,6	Comberton	Wallef	1 sokeman	Waltheof, earl	William, king	1 sokeman	0.13	0.10	0.05	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	13,3	Croydon	Wallef	Almær 'of Croydon'	Waltheof, earl	Roger, earl	-	0.75	0.50	0.50	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	13,11	Arrington	Wallef	1 sokeman, man of Earl Waltheof	Waltheof, earl	Roger, earl	-	1.00	3.14	2.57	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	13,12	Kingston	Wallef	Almær son of Goding	Waltheof, earl	Roger, earl	-	0.17	0.10	0.10	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	21,7	Conington	Wallef	1 man of Earl Waltheof	Waltheof, earl	Robert Gernon	Picot of Cambridge	1.25	1.00	0.80	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	21,8	Boxworth	Wallef	Leofsige 'of Boxworth'	Waltheof, earl	Robert Gernon	Picot of Cambridge	3.50	3.00	1.50	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	21,9	Swavesey	Wallef	Leofsige 'of Boxworth'	Waltheof, earl	Robert Gernon	Picot of Cambridge	1.00	1.00	0.25	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	25,8	Kingston	Wallef	Almær son of Goding	Waltheof, earl	Eudo the steward	Humphrey d'Anneville	0.08	0.03	0.03	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	26,34	Orwell	Wallef	1 sokeman, man of Earl Waltheof	Waltheof, earl	Hardwin de Scales	Durand the man of Hardwin de Scales	0.75	1.80	0.90	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	26,35	Wratworth	Wallef	1 sokeman, man of Earl Waltheof	Waltheof, earl	Hardwin de Scales	1 knight	0.67	2.22	1.11	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	32,14	Comberton	Wallef	1 sokeman, man of Earl Waltheof	Waltheof, earl	-	-	0.38	0.75	0.00	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	32,40	Cottenham	Wallef	1 sokeman	Waltheof, earl	Picot of Cambridge	Roger 'the man of Picot of Cambridge'	0.12	0.06	0.05	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	36,1	Longstanton	Wallef	Hoc 'of Longstanton'	Waltheof, earl	William fitzAnsculf	Picot of Cambridge	0.13	0.20	0.10	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	37,1	Comberton	Wallef	Akeli, the man of Earl Waltheof	Waltheof, earl	William de Cahagnes	-	0.38	0.50	0.50	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	37,2	Barton	Wallef	2 sokemen	Waltheof, earl	William de Cahagnes	-	1.63	6.50	5.20	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	37,2	Barton	Wallef	2 sokemen	Waltheof, earl	William de Cahagnes	-	0.88	3.50	2.80	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	38,3	Grantchester	Wallef	3 sokemen	Waltheof, earl	Robert Fafiton	-	2.00	7.27	5.09	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	38,5	Dry Drayton	Wallef	Sægar 'of Dry Drayton'	Waltheof, earl	Robert Fafiton	-	3.00	3.00	2.00	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	39,1	Caldecote	Wallef	Sigar 'of Caldecote'	Waltheof, earl	David d'Argentan	-	0.42	1.50	1.00	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	39,2	Croxton	Wallef	1 man	Waltheof, earl	David d'Argentan	-	1.50	2.50	2.00	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	39,3	Westwick	Wallef	Godmund 'of Westwick'	Waltheof, earl	David d'Argentan	Robert 'of Westwick'	1.00	1.00	1.00	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	40,1	Waterbeach	Wallef	1 man	Waltheof, earl	2 king's carpenters	-	1.50	3.41	2.50	B	Map
Cambridgeshire	41,8	Trumpington	Wallef	1 sokeman	Waltheof, earl	Judith, countess	Gollam 'of Trumpington'	0.50	0.50	0.50	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	41,11	Conington	Wallef	1 housecarl	Waltheof, earl	Judith, countess	Picot of Cambridge	1.00	0.35	1.00	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	41,12	Madingley	Wallef	4 men	Waltheof, earl	Judith, countess	Picot of Cambridge	3.00	2.00	1.50	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	41,13	Oakington	Wallef	Godwine 'of Oakington'	Waltheof, earl	Judith, countess	Roger of Olney	1.58	4.00	1.50	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	41,14	Over	Wallef	Godwine 'of Oakington'	Waltheof, earl	Judith, countess	Roger of Olney	0.50	1.00	1.00	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	41,15	Dry Drayton	Wallef	1 man	Waltheof, earl	Judith, countess	Roger of Olney	0.75	1.00	0.80	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	41,16	Childerley	Wallef	1 man	Waltheof, earl	Judith, countess	Picot of Cambridge	5.00	8.00	4.00	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	43,1	Oakington	Wallef	Siward, the man of earl Waltheof	Waltheof, earl	unnamed wife of Boselin de Dives	-	1.50	3.00	1.50	A	Map
Cambridgeshire	44,1	Comberton	Wallef	1 sokeman	Waltheof, earl	Erchenger the baker	-	0.38	0.90	0.68	A	Map
Hertfordshire	19,2	Polehanger	Wallef	Ælfric 'of Polehanger'	Waltheof, earl	Robert d'Oilly	Geoffrey Martel	0.50	1.00	0.50	A	Map
Huntingdonshire	19,27	Hail Weston	Wallef	Algeat 'of Hail Weston'	Waltheof, earl	Eustace the sheriff	-	1.50	2.00	1.00	B	Map
Huntingdonshire	19,31	Boughton		Godric the priest, the man of Earl Waltheof	Waltheof, earl	Eustace the sheriff	-	1.00	1.00	0.50	A	Map
Huntingdonshire	D12	Boughton	Wallef	Godric the priest, the man of Earl Waltheof	Waltheof, earl	Eustace the sheriff	-	1.00	0.00	0.00	-	Map
Northamptonshire	53,1	Chadstone	Wallef	Ulf son of Azur	Waltheof, earl	Drew de la Beuvrière	-	1.75	1.00	2.00	A	Map
Northamptonshire	56,39	Bozeat	Wallef	Strikr 'of Caldecote'	Waltheof, earl	Judith, countess	Lanzelin 'of Bozeat'	1.75	2.00	2.00	A	Map
Total								64.95	95.62	63.36

Subtenant in 1086

Shire	Phil. ref.	Vill	Subtenant DB Spelling	Holder 1066	Lord 1066	Tenant-in-Chief 1086	1086 subtenant	Fiscal value	1066 value	1086 value	Subtenant ID conf.	Show on map
Warwickshire	16,36	Hillmorton	Wallef	Scroti 'of Hillmorton'	-	Robert, count of Meulan	Waltheof	1.25	2.50	2.25	A	Map
Warwickshire	16,37	Hillmorton	Wallef	Waltheof 'of Shilton'	-	Robert, count of Meulan	Waltheof	0.50	0.75	0.50	A	Map
Warwickshire	16,45	Shilton	Wallef	Waltheof 'of Shilton'	-	Robert, count of Meulan	Waltheof	2.00	2.00	2.00	A	Map
Total								3.75	5.25	4.75