Sawley
Major Settlement in the Parish of Sawley and Wilsthorpe
Historical Forms
- Salle 1086 DB 1212 Cur
- Sallao 1152 RegLich
- Sallaw(a), Sallawe 1166,1185,1186,1187,1188 P 1196 ChancR 1223 Pat 1330 QW
- Sallou, Sallow(e) 1176 RegLich 1195 P c.1200 Darley 1242 Misc 1243 Fees 1660 ParReg
- Sallo 1212 Abbr 1346 FA
- Saloeia John RegLich
- Salowe 1313 Pat 1428 FA
- Sawla 1535–43 L
- Sawley 1577 Saxton 1577 DbAi
- Salley alias Sawley 1584 FF
- Sol(e)y 1658 StJ 1675 Ogilby
Etymology
In view of the later evidence the DB and Cur forms Salle appear to be errors, probably for Sallo , which would be 'willow hill', v. salh , hlāw . Though Sawley lies low beside the R. Trent, there is a slight rise where the church now stands and this must be the hill from which the place was named. The later interchange of lēah for hlāw is common, cf. infra 635. For the development of Sal - to Saw -, v. supra lii.