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.

Soulby

Early-attested site in the Parish of Dacre

Historical Forms

  • Suleby 1235 FF
  • Swilbye (sic) 1253 Ipm
  • Souleby 1279 Ass 1485 Ipm
  • Soulby 1323 ib
  • Solbye c.1545 CWxiv
  • Sowleby 1568 LRMB
  • Sulby 1598 PR
  • Sulebi 1195 P
  • Sulebi c.1376 Chron.Manniæ
  • Soulby 1515 Man.Roll

Etymology

Soulby Fell (v. fiall , under fell ) is so named in 1487 (Ipm). ODan  Sūle +býr . Cf. Soulby (We) (Sulebi 1195 P), Sulby (PN Nth 121), Sulby in Kirk Christ Lezayre (Sulebi c. 1376 Chron. Manniæ, Soulby 1515 Man. Roll) and in Kirk Conchan (PN IOM 545 and 237). This seems preferable to a compound of OE  sulh , 'trench', and býr , the alternative suggestion for Sulby in PN Nth.