Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Alricheseia 1062 KCD813 12th DB 1086

• Alrichesei(e), Alricheseye 1086 DB 1247 Ass 1251 BM 1276 Ass 1306,1317 Ch 1322 1325 Cl 1331 Fine 1340 FA 1349 Cl 1359 Ipm 1386 Cl

• Alricesei 1086 DB

• Ailricheseia, Aylricheseye 1202 Ass 1206 BM 1224 FF 1227 Ch 1242 Fees882 1247 Ass 1253 Ch 1254 BM 1316 FA

• Auricheseye 1220 LS Hy3 BM 1287 Ass

• Aillrikesheye 1227 Ass

• Eylricheseye 1227 Ass

• Eluricheseye 1227 Ass

• Aluricheseya 1247 Ass

• Hawricheseia 1255 BM

• Alverycheseye 1270 Ch

• Alrecheseye 1302 FA 1331 Fine 1350 Cl 1438 ADiv

• Alfricheseye 1307 Ass

• Arlicheseye, Arlycheseye 1307 Ipm 1402 BM 1420,1443 IpmR

• Arlechay 1386 BM

• Arlechesey 1438 ADiv

• Arlesey 1492 Ipm

• Arseley al. Alsey 16th BHRSviii.140

Etymology

'Aelfric's well-watered land,' eg being used in its wider sense. Skeat suggested that the pers. name was Aeðelric , but forms unknown to him disprove this suggestion, though some of the earlier forms in Ail - look as though early confusion with that name took place (there is a second Arlesey (lost) in Cople (Beds), for which we have the form Ailricheshei (Warden 84)). As a rule, after the Conquest, names in Aelf - and names in Ael - from Aeðel - are kept carefully apart.Confusion was however possible. The same person e.g. is described as Hugo filius Alwini in an original charter (Hy ii), Hugo filius Ailwini in the Pipe Roll for 1189, and Hugo filius Elfwine in an Assize Roll of 1202.