Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• fealuwes lea 944 BCS792

• F(e)aleweslea 1107–11 NRSiv

• Falewesle(i)(e), Felewesleie, Falelau 1086 DB

• Felesleuue, Felveslea 1086 DB

• Falewelea 1166,1174,1194 P

• Falewellea 1205 ClR

• Faleslea 1166 P 1209–35 WellsR

• Falewesle 12th Survey 1177 P(CR) 1333 Ipm

• Faleuwesle 1209–35 WellsR

• Fallewesle 1322 Cl

• Fallewysley 1537 StFrides

• Falegesł 1205 ClR

• Falegesleg 1215 ClR

• Falghesl' 1242 Cl

• Falwesleye 1255 Ipm

• Falwesle 1331 Cl

• Falweslle 1402 ADiv

• Fawllesley 1531 ADv

• Fausley 1562 EverdonParReg

Etymology

Bosworth-Toller, on the basis of this p.n. as recorded in BCS 792, postulates an OE  noun fealu , denoting fallow land, and takes it to be the common adj. fealu , 'lightish red, fallow,' used as a noun to describe ground recently ploughed. The NED (s. v. fallow sb.) notes that the common noun fallow (-land), going back to OE  fealg , was early confused with fealu , the name of the colour, and that is what may have taken place here. The name would in that case denote 'clearing or woodland belonging to some larger area of fallow land,' but such genitival compounds are rare, and no certainty is possible. The Berkshire Fawley shows a curious parallel in the early forms with genitival s , DB Faleslei , 1177 P Faleslege , (CR) Faleweslega .