Shirland
Major Settlement in the Parish of Shirland and Higham
Historical Forms
- Sirelunt 1086 DB
- Sirlund 1199 P
- Sirelond(e), Syrelond(e) 1212 RBE 1254 BelCh 1284–6 FA
- Schirlund, Schyrlund 1226 FF 1236,1293 Fees
- Schyrlound 1281 Ass
- Schirlond 1250 DbAxiv 1307 Ipm
- Schirlaund 1281 FF 1318 Darley
- Schirland(e) 1291 Tax 1316 FA
- Scirlund 1271 Ipm
- Scyrland 1251 Ch
- Shir(e)lond(e), Shyr(e)lond(e) 1242 ChR 1276 RH 1323 Ipm 1415 Cl
- Shirland(e), Shyrland(e) 1291 Tax 1299 HarlCh 1323 Ipm 1323 Extent
- Shurland(e) 1328 SR 1451 IpmR
- Sherland 1577 Saxton
- Cirelund a.1208 BelCh
- Cyrlund 1283 Pat
- Chirlond 1383 Cl
Etymology
Probably 'bright, shining grove', v. scīr 2 , lúndr , with the common development of the second element to land , cf. Hasland and Rowland supra 260 and 162. For forms in S -, Sc - and C -, Ch -, v. IPN 113 and cf. Shirebrook supra 298. Ekwall's suggestion (DEPN) 'grove where the shire met' (v. scīr 1 ) is also formally possible, especially in view of the special connotation of ON lúndr as 'sacred grove, sanctuary wood'. This place, it should be noted, is many miles from the county boundary.