The background of this atrocious name have been subject for some scholarly disputes; some suggesting it reflexes the popular belief the area north of churches were the location of evil (and therefore suitable for suicides and criminals), while other found references in Norse folklore where the "Kingdom of the Dead" was believed to be located to the north, and, 'Hell' still not associated with the pejorative meaning of today, was simply used to indicate northern locations in general.
The origins of this detestable name have been a subject of academic debate; some propose it reflects the widespread notion that areas north of churches were thought to be locations of evil (and thus suitable for suicides and criminals), while others point to Norse folklore, where the "Kingdom of the Dead" was believed to be situated in the north, and 'Hell' was used more broadly to denote northern locations.