Somersal Herbert
Major Settlement in the Parish of Somersal Herbert
Historical Forms
- Summersale 1086 DB
- Sumer(e)shal(a), Sumer(e)sal' 1179,1205 P 1205 FineR 1206 Cur 1252,1267 Cl
- Somersal(e) e.13th,Hy3 DbAiv 1268 WollCh 1287 1460 DbAiv
- Somersal(e) Herbert, Somersal(e) Herberd c.1300 1330 Ass Ed3 DbAiv 1472 WollCh
- Chirchesomersale Hy3 DbAiv 1278 FF Ed2,1464 DbAiv
- Kirke Somersale 1423 DbAiv
- Kirksomersall 1652 DuLa
Etymology
Probably 'Sumor's nook or corner of land', v. halh (dat.sg. hale ).An OE pers.n. Sumor is not recorded but would be parallel to OHG Sumar , ON Sumarr . The spelling -mm - of DB is not supported later and there seems little point in considering the OE pers.n. Sunmǣr , with later assimilation to Summer , cf. Somersham (PN BedHu 222–3). It is Herbert from the Fitzherbert family, lords of the manor, cf. Willelmum filium Herberti 1206 Cur. An alternative name was Church , v. cirice , kirkja , cf. Hill and Potter Somersal infra 610 and Somersall supra 222.