Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Echeles c.1180 Wollaton 1285 QW 1339 BirmDeed

• Le Echeles, Les Echelis 1291 Ipm

• Ofthenecheles 1315 Pat

• Le Nechel al. Necheles 1322 Ipm

• Nechel(e)s 1323 Cl 1355 Bodl 1387 ADiii 1433 Pat 1521 ADvi

• le Breches de la Nechilles 1396 ib

• Nichilles 1538 ADvi

Etymology

This place-name has been dealt with by Ekwall (Vising - Mélanges 104–6). He takes it to be a derivative, with the Germanic suffix -isla , from OE  ēcan , 'to increase.' Ecels would then have the meaning of 'addition, something added,' the reference being to a piece of land added to an estate. In addition to the present name we have also Echillsin in Stoneleigh and perhaps Eachelhurst infra 182, 49. The Eatchells (field) in Kingsbury infra 340, Eccles (field) in Rowington infra 369 and unidentified Azceals , Acheals (c. 1150ReadingA ) near Bearley, Echeles (c. 1270 AD i) in Bedworth, atte Necheles (1332 SR) in Wootton Wawen, Echelesdik (t. Hy 3 AD i), Netherechelis (1270 ib.), both in Bedworth, wood of Echles (1271 FF) in Bickenhill, Nechelesfeld (1362 Dugdale) in Meriden, and The Eachells (TA) in Kineton.In other counties we have Nechells (St), Neachill in Wednesfield (St), Echeles 1269 Ass, 1327, 1332 SR, Hitchells Wood near Doncaster (Y), Echeles 1137 Kirkstall Coucher Book and unidentified le Etchelles (1552Deed ) in Scropton (Db). As all the places above noted are hamlets or single dwellings, the name may well have been applied to small areas of land added to some already existing larger settlement or manor. The initial n is due to the ME  misdivision of atten echells , v. æt . See Addenda l.