The Roman name for the area is long thought to have been "Burgodunum", but the Yorkshire Archaeological Society argues that this is "dubious". An alternative name is also "Burgodurum", meaning the "Fort by the Waterway". It has also been suggested that this was shortened to Burden, which is similar in sound to the Celtic "Verdun", found in Belgium. It is probable that an Angle village sprang up around the fort and that a church was built in the village. Adel is mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book as "Adele". Another spelling used until 1816 is "Addle". Most recent authorities derive the name from the Old English "adela" ‘dirty, muddy place’, but arguments have also been made for a personal name "Ada" (or similar Anglo-Saxon names such as Eadda, Eada or Ædda) + Old English "lēah" 'open ground, lea' (compare the terminus spelling of nearby Headingley DB: "Hedingelei" & "hedingeleia").