English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Showell Fm etc

Early-attested site in the Parish of Little Tew

Historical Forms

  • Sevewelle 1086 DB 1268 Ass
  • Sivewelle 1086 DB
  • Sefewella c.1154–63 Eynsh
  • Seuelle 1207 Cur
  • Sewelle 1241–64 Eynsh 1401–2 FA
  • Swelles 1252 Cl
  • Sowelle 1278–9 RH
  • Showel early18th ParColl

Etymology

'Seven springs.' The name is a common one: v. PN Nth 40, where a number of examples are given from other counties. In O the OE  name, from seofon and w(i)elle, occurs again in Showell Covert (249), and Seven Springs (cf. PN Sr xliv) appears as a modern name on the 6″ map in Swinbrook.

Places in the same Parish