Wells

See also: wells

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Old English wella, genitive plural of well (“spring”), in reference to a residence near a group of springs. The original use of the genitive case here would've indicated origin. The -s ending of the modern form would be added later on upon reanalysis after the breakdown of the case system (outside of pronouns) that occurred in the development of English.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /wɛlz/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɛlz
  • Homophone: wells

Proper noun

Wells

  1. An English topographic surname from Middle English for someone living near a well or a spring.
  2. A male given name transferred from the surname.
  3. A small cathedral city and civil parish with a city council in Somerset, England, previously in Mendip district (OS grid ref ST5445). [1]
  4. A small town in Norfolk, England; in full, Wells-next-the-Sea.
  5. A town in the Cariboo Regional District, British Columbia, Canada.
  6. A locale in the United States:
    1. An unincorporated community in Pipe Creek Township, Miami County, Indiana; named for founder James Oscar Wells.
    2. A census-designated place in Ottawa County, Kansas.
    3. A town in York County, Maine; named for the city in England.
    4. A city in Faribault County, Minnesota; named for J. W. Wells, father-in-law of Canadian-American Minnesota politician Clark W. Thompson.
    5. An unincorporated community in Lowndes County, Mississippi.
    6. A city in Elko County, Nevada.
    7. A town and census-designated place therein, in Hamilton County, New York; named for land agent Joshua Wells.
    8. A town in Cherokee County, Texas; named for railroad engineer Maj. E. H. Wells.
    9. A town and census-designated place therein, in Rutland County, Vermont.
    10. An unincorporated community in Marshall County, West Virginia.
    11. An unincorporated community in Rockland, Manitowoc County and Rantoul, Calumet County, Wisconsin.
    12. A town in Monroe County, Wisconsin; named for early settler James Wells.
    13. A number of townships, including in Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Pennsylvania, listed under Wells Township.

Derived terms

References

  1. ^ Parish map (Somerset)

Anagrams

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