Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Werle c.1045 ASWills 14th

• Wareleiā 1086 DB

• Little Wareley 1548 Pat

• Wareley Magna, Wareley Parva, Wareley Wallet 1594 N

• Warleia, Warleiā 1086 DB

• Warle(e), Warle(e) Setmoles 1212 Fees 1219,1243 FF 1252–8 ADi

• Warle(e) Abbatisse, Warle(e) de Septem Molis 1254 Ass

• Estwarle(e), Warle(e) Moeles 1276 For 1285 Ass

• Abbeswarle(e) 1292 Abbr

• Warle(e) Septem Molarum 1301 FF

• Warlee Semeles 1303,1346 FA 1318 FF 1330,1335 Londin

• Warle Abesses 1343 Ipm

• Warle(e) Abbesse 1346 FA

• Warle(y)gh Setmel 1257 Ch

• Warle(y)gh set miles rectius Semeles t.Hy3 FA

• West Warle(y)gh 1356 FF

• Warley Great alias Walett 1536 FF

• Warle(y)gh Myche 1552 EAS(NS)ii

• Warl' et Setmolis 1242 P

• vill de Setmoles 1285 Ass

• Estwarle(e)semel(e)s 1382,1413 Cl

• Worley 1547 Pat

• Great Warley alias Warley Waylett alias Abasse Warley 1604 EAvii

• Setmell, Setmeles, de Septem Molis, Molendinis c. 1212 (Fees)

Etymology

The complete absence, except for one early form, of any e between the first and second elements in this name makes it almost impossible to take the name to be derived from an earlier Wǣranleage or the like. The situation forbids wer , 'weir,' and one can only suggest that the first element is OE  wǣr , 'covenant, agreement, pledge,' though its significance in the compound must remain obscure. wǣr is largely a poetic word in OE and its use in a place-name would suggest that it was a very early name.

Great or West Warley was also called Abbess because part of the possessions of the Abbess of Barking. Little or East Warley was held by the family of William Setmell , Setmeles , de Septem Molis , Molendinis c. 1212 (Fees) who probably came from Sept Meules, south of Eu in north-east Normandy. Waylett , 'cross-roads' (v. (ge)læte), must refer to Great Warley Street.