Waltheof

Male
SDB
4 of 5

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

Lord 1066

Shire Phil. ref. Vill DB Spelling Holder 1066 Lord 1066 Tenant-in-Chief 1086 1086 Subtenant Fiscal Value 1066 Value 1086 Value 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
Bedfordshire 40,3 Totternhoe Wallef Leofwine Cild Waltheof, earl William the chamberlain - 6.75 8.00 2.50 A
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
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
Buckinghamshire 53,2 Weston Underwood Wallef Wulfric 'of Weston Underwood' Waltheof, earl Judith, countess Ansketil 'of Tyringham' 0.75 1.00 0.50 A
Cambridgeshire 13,11 Arrington Wallef 1 sokeman, man of Earl Waltheof Waltheof, earl Roger, earl - 1.00 3.14 2.57 A
Cambridgeshire 13,12 Kingston Wallef Almær son of Goding Waltheof, earl Roger, earl - 0.17 0.10 0.10 A
Cambridgeshire 13,3 Croydon Wallef Almær 'of Croydon' Waltheof, earl Roger, earl - 0.75 0.50 0.50 A
Cambridgeshire 1,6 Comberton Wallef 1 sokeman Waltheof, earl William, king 1 sokeman 0.13 0.10 0.05 A
Cambridgeshire 21,7 Conington Wallef 1 man of Earl Waltheof Waltheof, earl Robert Gernon Picot of Cambridge 1.25 1.00 0.80 A
Cambridgeshire 21,8 Boxworth Wallef Leofsige 'of Boxworth' Waltheof, earl Robert Gernon Picot of Cambridge 3.50 3.00 1.50 A
Cambridgeshire 21,9 Swavesey Wallef Leofsige 'of Boxworth' Waltheof, earl Robert Gernon Picot of Cambridge 1.00 1.00 0.25 A
Cambridgeshire 25,8 Kingston Wallef Almær son of Goding Waltheof, earl Eudo the steward Humphrey d'Anneville 0.08 0.03 0.03 A
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
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
Cambridgeshire 32,14 Comberton Wallef 1 sokeman, man of Earl Waltheof Waltheof, earl - - 0.38 0.75 0.00 A
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
Cambridgeshire 36,1 Longstanton Wallef Hoc 'of Longstanton' Waltheof, earl William fitzAnsculf Picot of Cambridge 0.13 0.20 0.10 A
Cambridgeshire 37,1 Comberton Wallef Akeli, the man of Earl Waltheof Waltheof, earl William de Cahagnes - 0.38 0.50 0.50 A
Cambridgeshire 37,2 Barton Wallef 2 sokemen Waltheof, earl William de Cahagnes - 0.88 3.50 2.80 A
Cambridgeshire 37,2 Barton Wallef 2 sokemen Waltheof, earl William de Cahagnes - 1.63 6.50 5.20 A
Cambridgeshire 38,3 Grantchester Wallef 3 sokemen Waltheof, earl Robert Fafiton - 2.00 7.27 5.09 A
Cambridgeshire 38,5 Dry Drayton Wallef Sægar 'of Dry Drayton' Waltheof, earl Robert Fafiton - 3.00 3.00 2.00 A
Cambridgeshire 39,1 Caldecote Wallef Sigar 'of Caldecote' Waltheof, earl David d'Argentan - 0.42 1.50 1.00 A
Cambridgeshire 39,2 Croxton Wallef 1 man Waltheof, earl David d'Argentan - 1.50 2.50 2.00 A
Cambridgeshire 39,3 Westwick Wallef Godmund 'of Westwick' Waltheof, earl David d'Argentan Robert 'of Westwick' 1.00 1.00 1.00 A
Cambridgeshire 40,1 Waterbeach Wallef 1 man Waltheof, earl 2 king's carpenters - 1.50 3.41 2.50 B
Cambridgeshire 41,11 Conington Wallef 1 housecarl Waltheof, earl Judith, countess Picot of Cambridge 1.00 0.35 1.00 A
Cambridgeshire 41,12 Madingley Wallef 4 men Waltheof, earl Judith, countess Picot of Cambridge 3.00 2.00 1.50 A
Cambridgeshire 41,13 Oakington Wallef Godwine 'of Oakington' Waltheof, earl Judith, countess Roger of Olney 1.58 4.00 1.50 A
Cambridgeshire 41,14 Over Wallef Godwine 'of Oakington' Waltheof, earl Judith, countess Roger of Olney 0.50 1.00 1.00 A
Cambridgeshire 41,15 Dry Drayton Wallef 1 man Waltheof, earl Judith, countess Roger of Olney 0.75 1.00 0.80 A
Cambridgeshire 41,16 Childerley Wallef 1 man Waltheof, earl Judith, countess Picot of Cambridge 5.00 8.00 4.00 A
Cambridgeshire 41,8 Trumpington Wallef 1 sokeman Waltheof, earl Judith, countess Gollam 'of Trumpington' 0.50 0.50 0.50 A
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
Cambridgeshire 44,1 Comberton Wallef 1 sokeman Waltheof, earl Erchenger the baker - 0.38 0.90 0.68 A
Hertfordshire 19,2 Polehanger Wallef Ælfric 'of Polehanger' Waltheof, earl Robert d'Oilly Geoffrey Martel 0.50 1.00 0.50 A
Huntingdonshire 19,27 Hail Weston Wallef Algeat 'of Hail Weston' Waltheof, earl Eustace the sheriff - 1.50 2.00 1.00 B
Huntingdonshire 19,31 Boughton - Godric the priest, the man of Earl Waltheof Waltheof, earl Eustace the sheriff - 1.00 1.00 0.50 A
Huntingdonshire D12 Boughton Wallef Godric the priest, the man of Earl Waltheof Waltheof, earl Eustace the sheriff - 1.00 0.00 0.00 -
Northamptonshire 53,1 Chadstone Wallef Ulf son of Azur Waltheof, earl Drew de la Beuvrière - 1.75 1.00 2.00 A
Northamptonshire 56,39 Bozeat Wallef Strikr 'of Caldecote' Waltheof, earl Judith, countess Lanzelin 'of Bozeat' 1.75 2.00 2.00 A
Totals

Subtenant in 1086

Shire Phil. ref. Vill DB Spelling Holder 1066 Lord 1066 Tenant-in-Chief 1086 1086 Subtenant Fiscal Value 1066 Value 1086 Value Conf. Show on Map
Warwickshire 16,36 Hillmorton Wallef Scroti 'of Hillmorton' - Robert, count of Meulan Waltheof 1.25 2.50 2.25 A
Warwickshire 16,37 Hillmorton Wallef Waltheof 'of Shilton' - Robert, count of Meulan Waltheof 0.50 0.75 0.50 A
Warwickshire 16,45 Shilton Wallef Waltheof 'of Shilton' - Robert, count of Meulan Waltheof 2.00 2.00 2.00 A
Totals