Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Siglestone, Siglestorne 1086 DB

• Siglestorn(e), Syglestorn(e) 12th Meaux 1221–35 Melsa 1251 FF

• Syglesthorn(e) 1294 Ebor 1468 et freq

• Syglestron 1305 BevAct

• Sigglestorn 1347 Test

• Sigelthorne 13th Nunkeel

• Sighelesthorn 1246 FF 1343 Baildon 1347 Ipm 1371 Pat

• Sikelestorn 1281 Nostell

• Sighelstorn 1297 LS

• Sighlesthorn(e), Syghlesthorn(e) 1304 BevAct 1336 FF

• Syghlestorn 1336 FF 1396 Test

• Siltorne 14th Nunkeel

• Segulstorn 1385 Ch

• Seglest(h)orn 1417 BevAct 1449 BM

• Segylstorn 1439 Baildon

• Silst(h)orn, Sylst(h)orn 1512 FF 1538 NCWills 1610 FF

• Silksterne 1578 FF

Etymology

'Sigel 's thorntree,' v. þorn . The first element appears to be a pers. name but its origin is obscure; it may be a derivative or a shortened form of some name like OE  Sigewulf or a derivative of some Scand  pers. name in Sig - (Sigólfr , etc.). The same name probably enters into Silsden (WRY), Siglesdene 1086 DB, and Sileby (Lei), Sigle (s )bi 1086 ib.

The spellings Sil - in all these names may be accounted for in this way: if the pers. name is Scandinavian we have the possibility of palatalisation of medial g similar to that evidenced in Snilesworth, PN NRY 204. Otherwise the variation is due to the existence of two OE  forms Sigles - and Sigeles -, the former resulting in ME  Sig (e )les - (with a voiced stop), the latter in Siles -.The spellings Seguls - etc. exhibit ME lengthening of short i in an open syllable to ē .