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.

Cheveley

Major Settlement in the Parish of Cheveley

Historical Forms

  • (æt) Cæafle c.1000 ASWills
  • Ceaflea, Ceaflea villam silvosam 1022 LibEl 12th
  • Ceauelai, Ceauelai silua 1086 InqEl
  • Chef(f)le 1170 LibEl c.1280 Hosp
  • Cheaflea 1022 KCD734 18th ElyM t.Cnut 14th
  • Chiauel' 1200 CurR
  • Silva regis de Cheueleie, Cheueleie 1086 ICC, InqEl
  • Cheuelea 1188 P
  • Chevele(e), Cheveley(e) 1170 LibEl 1539 MinAcct
  • Chevelegh 1287 Fine
  • Chevely 1340 FF
  • Cheule 1268 Ass
  • Cheeveley 1535 VE
  • Cauelai 1086 DB
  • Caueleio 1086 ICC
  • Cauelaio 1086 InqEl
  • Cauele 1218 SR
  • Caveley 1246 Cl
  • Chauelai, Chauelai silua 1086 DB
  • Chauelai, Chauely, Chauele, Chauelay, Chaueleye, Chaueleg 1160 P 1342 Ipm
  • Chafle 1242 Fees
  • Cheleia 1086 InqEl
  • Chaluelega 1167 P
  • Chaluelea 1171–92 ib
  • Chivele 1361 Pap
  • Chyvele 1438 Pat

Etymology

The first element is OE  ceaf , 'chaff,' possibly in the sense of 'rubbish, fallen twigs,' as suggested by Ekwall (DEPN); the second is lēah, here, clearly, 'wood,' as shown by the references to a silva from DB onwards.