By 1035, Walter had located his headquarters on a high area overlooking the Ouse River. Most of Bedfordshire is 280 feet above sea level with one place being nearly 800 feet above. The area Walter chose was one of the higher spots, though apparently not 800 feet above the sea level, and was known as Wahull.
Wahull is an old English descriptive place name - some researchers have defined it as a high, wooded place. Walter's castle was constructed on a rock of considerable height with a steep ascent. He and his family became known as Walter de Wahulle.
Others have said the area was called WoadHill after the plant wood, which was once cultivated as a dye in Saxon days.
The name has seen many changes. Among them area: Woodhull, Wodhull, Woodhall (1300s), Wodell, Odell (1500s) and Odle soon after. At no time in English sources has it ever been O'Dell.
In America, Odell, Odle, O'Dell, were sometimes used in the same family. Poor penmanship and poor spelling habits could be a cause, so also could be the fact that their names would be written for them on records or legal documents.
