Merevale
Major Settlement in the Parish of Merevale
Historical Forms
- Miravall 1148 Monast 1320 Pat 1343 Ipm
- Mirevallis 1154(1292),1189(1326) Ch 1228 Pat
- Mireualle 1157,1193 P
- Mirevaus t.Hy2 AD
- Mirivaus 1232 Ass
- Mirivall(e) 1188 P 1229 Cl 1265 Pat 1281 Ipm
- Myryvale 1238 Pat 1305 Ipm 1327 Pat
- Miryvall 1298 Ipm
- Myravale 1561 FF
- Mirrivale al. Merry Vale 1733 ib
- de Miris Vallibus, Miris Vallibus 1230 P
- de Mira Valle, Mira Valle 1345 Cl
- Murival(l)e t.Hy3 BM 1316 Ipm
- Murevall 1461 IpmR
- Merivale 1444 BM
- Merevalle 1449 Pat 1494 Ipm 1543 LP
- Meryvalle 1462 Pat
- Merywoll 1523 BM
- Meryval(l)e 1541,1545 LP 1547 Monast
- Mearvale 1727 Recov
Etymology
This is a difficult name. It is clear that at an early date it was interpreted as a name of hybrid origin and taken to mean 'pleasant valley.' Originally it may well have been a purely Latin name—mira vallis , 'wonderful valley'—given by the founders of the abbey here in the 12th century, vale would be the normal French development from such a name. In vaus we have preservation of the OFr nominative form, such as is still found in Rievaulx, Jervaulx (PN NRY 73, 250).