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.

Arle

Early-attested site in the Parish of Cheltenham

Historical Forms

  • æt Ahie 862 BCS535 13th
  • on alr, of alr, andlang alre 11 Finb 14th
  • Alra 1184 P
  • Alr', Alre 1185 Templar c.1220 GlR 1221 Ass 1227 ClR c.1240,c.1250 GlR Hy7 Rent
  • Arle 1430 Rent Hy6 AddCh Hy7 Rent 1696 PR
  • Nerle 1435 MinAcct

Etymology

'At the alder-tree', v. alor (dat.sg. alre ). The metathesis of alre - to arle - is not uncommon (cf. Phonol. § 46). The OE forms in Finb refer to the stream, now called the Chelt, which runs through Arle; Arle Meadow in Boddington (77supra ) is doubtless named from Arle as a r.n. On the form Nerle cf. atten and Phonol. § 45.