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 etymology of this unpleasant name has been a topic of scholarly contention; some argue it stems from the common perception that regions north of churches were considered places of malevolence (and therefore conducive to suicides and criminals), whereas others suggest connections to Norse mythology, where the "Realm of the Dead" was thought to be located in the northernmost reaches, and 'Hell' was employed more loosely to signify northern territories.