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.

Clewer

Major Settlement in the Parish of Clewer

Historical Forms

  • Clivore 1086 DB
  • Cliuewara 1156 P
  • Cliwara 1157,1158 P
  • Clyeware 1284 Ass
  • Clifwara 1159,1160,1167 P
  • Cliffewar 1242–3 Fees
  • Cleware 1289,1361 Fine 1517 DInc
  • Cleuwar 1361 Fine
  • Cluwar 1401–2 FA
  • Cluer 1535 VE
  • Clewar Brokas 1604 SpecCom

Etymology

'The dwellers on a river-bank', v. clif . The same name occurs in So, and the second el. is -ware 'inhabitants'. Clewer Brocas consisted of lands held by Sir John Brocas in the first half of the 14th cent. (VCH III, 71).