Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Suersele 1086 DB

• Sumereshal 1198,1203 Cur

• Sumershale londe 13th Wymondley

• Somereshale 1287,1316 FF

• Somersale 1295 Ipm 1330 Pat

• Sumershales 1309 ib

• Somyssalestrete 1422 ADiii

• Somersales lane 1594 Sess

• Hyde Hall t.Jas1 ECP

Etymology

v. healh . The first element in the earlier name is probably identical in origin with that of Somersham (PN BedsHu 222).This may be either an OE  personal name Sumor , related to OGer Sumar and ON  Sumarr , or else possibly an unrecorded compound *Sunmær . As in the Hertfordshire name, no spellings with a double consonant have been noted, the former alternative is perhaps the more probable one. The manor was granted to William Oliver in 1314 (VCH iii, 273) and was known as Olivers in 1353 (Ipm), Olivers or East End in 1506 (VCH iii, 274). It passed to the family of Hyde of Throcking c. 1522 (ib.), whence the present name.