Shirley
Major Settlement in the Parish of Shirley
Historical Forms
- Sirelei(e) 1086 DB
- Sirelai 1230 ChancR
- Syrle c.1141 Tutbury
- Sirleya 1162 ib
- Syrleg' 1275 RH 1286 Darley
- S(c)hirle, S(c)hyrle, S(c)hyrleg(e), S(c)hyrlegh(e), S(c)hyrleya, S(c)hyrley(e) 1159–66,c.1200 Darley 1226 FF 1246 Shir 1247 FF 1247 Ch
- Chirley a.1192 Shir
- Schyrelayg' 1230 P
- Skirleghe 1281 Ass
- Sherley 1577 Saxton 1610 Speed
Etymology
'Bright clearing', v. scīr 2 , lēah . The spelling in Ch - is due to AN influence, whilst that in Sk - is from the cognate ON skírr 'bright, shining'.