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.

Charfield

Major Settlement in the Parish of Charfield

Historical Forms

  • Cirvelde 1086 DB
  • Gervelda 1220 Fees
  • Certfeld c.1200 Bathii8
  • Cherfeld 1248 Ass 1316 Monast 1504 Ipm
  • Cherveld' Hy8 Rent
  • Chervylde 1535 VE
  • Chervils 1777 M
  • Cherefend (sic for Cherefeud) 1269 Episc
  • Charsfeld 1252 ADi
  • Cheresfeld 1287 Ass
  • Charefeld(e) 1274 RH 1275 Episc 1287 Ass 1291 Tax 1505 Pat
  • Charefeud 1280 Ch 1284 Episc
  • Charrefeld 1497 FF
  • Charfeld(e) 1274 Pat 1476 FF 1278 Ipm 1314 M 1610
  • Charfeld(e) als. Chartefelde 1598 FF
  • Charfeud 1295 Episc
  • Charfild 1458 IpmR
  • Charvild 1615 Rec

Etymology

For the first element OE  cert 'rough ground' (as in Chase Hill 38infra ) might be thought of, as Ekwall suggested, for the 1200 Cert - and the 1598 Charte - form. Otherwise, it might be from OE  cearr 'bend, turn', probably here in allusion to a bend in a road, a sense which NCy dial. chare has. v. feld and for the forms -velde , -vild cf. Phonol. § 34 (a ).