Sortele
Early-attested site in the Parish of Quainton
Historical Forms
- Sortelai 1086 DB 1163 P
- Sorteleg 1204 FineR
- Scottele (sic) 1207 Fines
Etymology
'Short clearing' from OE scort , short and leah. Sortelai is mentioned next to Shipton in DB (274 b , 275 a ), both manors being held TRW by one Alsi . It is quite possible therefore that we should identify Sortelai with the manor of Lee in Shipton Lee. In the last two passages mentioned above it is associated with Doddershall which is in the immediate neighbourhood of Shipton Lee. If it is not to be identified with Lee and taken as a shortened form of it, it is clear that 'short lea' was so called in contrast to Lee.