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.

Chigwell

Major Settlement in the Parish of Chigwell

Historical Forms

  • Cingheuuella, Cinghe uuellā 1086 DB
  • Chingewell' 1235 Ass
  • Chyngewell 1376 Pat
  • Chig(ge)well(e), Chy g(ge)well(e) 1158 BM 1190 P 1200 Cur 1333 Londin
  • Chigeswell 1253 Ch
  • Gikewell 1195 CurR 1275 RH
  • Gig(g)ewell 1199 Abbr 1420 IpmR
  • Gygewell' 1248 Ass
  • Gikesell' (p), Chichewell 1200 Cur
  • Kingeswell' (Chigewell') ib.
  • Chik(e)well(e), Chyk(e)well(e) 1225 FF 1281 Ch 1316–46 ADi 1324 Pat 1331 Londin
  • Chickewelle 1294 Cl
  • Cheg(g)ewella, Cheg(g)ewelle 1231 Bracton 1297 ADi
  • Chek(e)well(e) 1366 ADi 1399 Pap 1428 FA 1475 IpmR
  • Schiggewell' 1235 Ass
  • Schikewelle 1329 Ipm

Etymology

Probably, as suggested by Professor Ekwall, 'Cicca 's spring' (v. wielle ) with the same pers. name which is found in Chignall and Chickney infra 246–7, 474. The first forms offer difficulties; they may be due to the influence of Chingford supra 18–19, or they may point to an alternative Ciccingawielle , 'spring of Cicca 's people.' For this voicing of intervocalic k cf. Cople (PN BedsHu 89) and Coggeshall infra 365.