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.

Silsoe

Major Settlement in the Parish of Silsoe

Historical Forms

  • Siuuilessou, Sewilessou 1086 DB
  • Siuelisho 1175 P
  • Siuelesho, Syuelesho 1199 P 1330 Fine
  • Shiuelsho(u) 1242 Fees890 1316 Ipm
  • Siuelho 1276 Ass
  • Syuelso 1323 BM
  • Sevelesho 1419 IpmR
  • Sybylso 1479 IpmR 1485 Ipm
  • Silshoo 1506 ADv
  • Sylsoo 1535 VE

Etymology

'Sifel's hoh' or hill. The name Sifel is not on record, but it has an OGer  cognate Sibilo (Förstemann PN) and is a diminutive of the same Sif - stem which occurs in the well-known Sifeca , mentioned in Widsith (219), the treacherous adviser of Ermanaric. The same name is found in Silsworth (Nth).

Places in the same Parish