Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Flauflor William Abingdon c.1240

• Flagaflora Hy1 c.1200 ib

• Flagesflore 1166 RBE 13th

• Flageflur c.1180 Abingdon 13th

• Fauflur 1204 P 1242–3 Fees

• Fageflur 1207 HunterFines

• Feauflor' 1220 Fees

• Fafflore 1242–3 ib

• Fflauflore 1268–72 FF

• Fauelore 1284 Ass 1380 Fine

• Faulor' 1327 SR

• Fawlour 1428 FA

• Fuller 1535 VE

• Fallow 1761 Rocque 1830 OS

Etymology

This has previously been explained (DEPN, Elements) as identical with Fawler O 421, which means 'tessellated pavement', v. fāg , flōr .Professor Löfvenberg points out, however, that Fl - in the earliest spellings for the Berks name probably indicates a different origin.These spellings suggest derivation from *flage 'flagstone' and flōr, a compound in which the first -l - could be lost owing to dissimilation.Flawford and Flawforth Nt are derived from OE  flage or Old Norse flaga and flōr in Nt 210, 239. Elements 1 164 suggests that the Nt names may be from fāgan flōre in spite of the first -l - of the spellings, but it seems safer to derive them, and the Berks Fawler, from flage .It is not certain what the term 'flagstone floor' denotes; it could refer to remains of Roman agricultural buildings. A Roman burial has been found near Fawler.

The estate later called Fawler is one of three described under the name Sparsholt in DB, v. supra 372. A charter of Hy 1, Abingdon 11, 126, refers to 10 hides in Esperesholt quae et alio nomine vocatur Flagaflora . Although it was known as Sparsholt till after the Conquest, Fawler was a distinct estate in 963, v. Pt 3.