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.

Fawler

Major Settlement in the Parish of Fawler

Historical Forms

  • Fauflor 1205 OblR 1251 Eynsh
  • Fauylor 1213–28 Eynsh
  • Fauilore c.1230 Frid c.1425
  • Faulore c.1230 AD 1349 Cl 1385,90 Eynsh 1428 FA
  • Fauelore c.1230 Frid c.1425 FA 1428
  • Fauelaure 1428 FA
  • Fan(n)eflur 1268 Ass
  • Faneflore 1278–9 RH
  • Favelore 1275 Cl

Etymology

The name is identical with the phrase (to ) fāgan flōran , which occurs in the boundaries of Water Eaton in 904 (BCS 607). It means 'variegated floor,' i.e. 'tesselated pavement.' v. fāg , flōr . The pavement at Fawler was one of those in a Romano-British house in a meadow on the north bank of the Evenlode. One was opened up in 1865, but covered in again, and another was destroyed in making the railway line. The same name occurs in Berks. Cf. also Beowulf 725 (on fāgne flōr ) and PN Nth 82.

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Other OS name