Northen Etchells is a former civil parish in the county of Cheshire (now in Greater Manchester), England.

"Northen" is an old name for Northenden and "Etchells" came from Anglo-Saxon ēcels = "land added to an estate".

Northen Etchells covered the rural area that includes much of modern-day Wythenshawe. As late as 1872, Northen Etchells was a township in the parish of Northen of moderately-sized farms and clusters of labourers' cottages around Hey Head, Moss Nook, Poundswick, Sharston, Crossacres and Brownlow Green.

To the north of Northen Etchells was the township of Northenden. Stockport Etchells lay to the east, Styal to the south with Baguley and Altrincham townships to the west.

Northen Etchells existed as a township from the Middle Ages until 1894.

In 1866 Northern Etchells became a separate civil parish.

Northen Etchells and Stockport Etchells were collectively called Etchells and often administered together from the 16th to 18th centuries.

Northen Etchells ceased to exist as an administrative body in 1894. Cheshire County Council was created (along with 61 others) in 1888. In 1894 Rural District Councils and Parish Councils replaced the old townships. Northen Etchells became part of Bucklow Rural District Council, electing one councillor to the council. On 1 April 1931 the parish was abolished and merged with Manchester and became part of the County Borough of Manchester. In 1921 the parish had a population of 906.