Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Ceolesig, (to) ceolsige c.895 BCS565 12th

• ceolesige 945 12th ib

• (æt) Ceolsige c.980 ASWills e.11th

• (into) Ceolesige 1003–4 c.1240 ib

• (æt) Ceolesege 1006 ASC

• Celsei, Celsea 1086 DB

• Cealseia c.1125 AddCh

• Cealseiam 1202 Ch 1227

• Chausi 1167 P 1332 Cl

• Schauseye 1284 Ass

• Chelseia 1176 P

• Cheleseia l.12th ReadingC

• Chelseye 1311–12 FF 1327 SR 1401–2 FA

• Cheleseye 1318 Cl

• Chellesey(e) 1396 AD

• Chauweseia 1198 Cur

• Cholsey 1316 FA 1401 Fine

• Cholsley 1761 Rocque

• Germanus Ceolesigensis æcclesiæ abbas 997 (c. 1150) KCD 698

Etymology

'Cēol's island', v. (ī)eg; the form dated 945 occurs in the bounds of Brightwell and Sotwell, and appears to refer to Cholsey Hill, which is a mile N.W. of the village. (ī)eg is here used in the sense 'dry ground in a marsh'.

The name occurs also in the phrase Germanus Ceolesigensis æcclesiæ abbas 997 (c. 1150) KCD 698 (the site of a monastery is shown on the 6″ map). The forms Chausi etc. gave the surname which occurs in Chazey Heath, Fm and Wd in Mapledurham O 60.