Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Setgraue 1086 DB 1167×70 Rut l.12 GarCart 1199 MemR

• Setgrave c.1180 Nichols 1208 Cur 1243 Fees 1265 Nichols

• Sethgrava Hy2 Berkeley

• Sethgravia Hy2 ib

• Sethgraue l.12 GarCart

• Sedgrave 1156 Ch 1318 Dugd Hy2 Dane l.12 Pat 1226,1227 Cl 1278 Hastings 1279 FA 1428

• Sedgrava l.Hy2 Berkeley l.12 ib

• Sedgraue l.12 GarCart 1218 RegAnt 1235 Laz 1404 Fine 1250

• Satgrave 1086 DB e.13 Berkeley e.Hy3 ib

• Satgraua Hy2 Dane

• Satgraue 13 ShR

• Sadgrave 1184 Berkeley l.12,Hy2 c.1225 e.Hy3 Hastings

• Sadgraue 1190 AC

• Sadgrava e.13 Berkeley

• Sagrave l.Hy2 Berkeley 1204 ChR 1204 RegAnt

• Sagraua 1193 P l.12 Dane

• Sagraue 1194 P 1195 ib

• Segrave 1086 DB 1201 OblR 1204 RegAnt 1233 Ch 1234 Pat 1583 LEpis 1610 Speed

• Segraue c.1130 LeicSurv 1197 P 1200 1386,1392 MiD 1518 Visit 1576 Saxton

• Segraua 1183,1184 P 1199 1204 RegAnt

• Segrava l.Hy2 Berkeley c.1200 Sloane 1249 Pat

• Seygrave 1279 RGrav 1285 FA 1535 VE 1540 MinAccts

• Seagraue 1207 P 1211 ib

• Seagrave c.1240 Berkeley 1620 LML

Etymology

This is a topographical name of Old English origin. The generic is most probably grāf 'a grove' rather than græf 'a ditch'. Spellings with medial th , t and d favour sēað 'a pit, a pool' as the specific, but formally set 'a fold for farm animals' is also possible as the first element, though given the transient nature of a fold, less likely. It should be noted also that set normally appears in place-names as the generic. A satisfying interpretation of the name is 'the grove near the pool', v. sēað , grāf .There is a large pool beside a stream at SK 623174 and adjacent to the pool are earthworks which presumably are the remains of medieval settlement.