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.

Cholsey

Major Settlement in the Parish of Cholsey

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.