English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Chignall Smealy

Early-attested site in the Parish of Chignall

Historical Forms

  • Smetheleye 1254 EASxviii 1284 FF 1387 Walden
  • Chikenale Smythle 1481 Will
  • Chyknale Smetheley al. Chiknale Trenchefoylle 1537 FF
  • Smelie 1544 LP
  • Smeley Chyggenhale 1548 LP
  • Trenchewell al. Smaly Chyckenell 1561 FF
  • Smele Chygnall, Smely Chygnall 1564 ib

Etymology

Chignall Smealy is Smetheleye 1254 EAS xviii, 1284 FF, 1387Walden , Chikenale Smythle 1481Will , Chyknale Smetheley al. Chiknale Trenchefoylle 1537FF , Smelie 1544 LP, Smeley Chyggenhale 1548 LP, Trenchewell al. Smaly Chyckenell 1561FF , Smele Chygnall , Smely Chygnall 1564 ib. 'Smooth clearing,' v. smeðe , leah . Identical with Smitherley Common infra 613. This is an unusual example of the qualification of a place-name by the addition of another place-name. It was also known as Little Chignall (M ii, 81).

Places in the same Parish