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.

Shawell

Major Settlement in the Parish of Shawell

Historical Forms

  • Sawelle 1086 DB 1205 FF
  • Sawell 1233 Cur 1235 Cl
  • Sewell 1203,1230 Cur
  • Scawell 1220 MHW
  • Schawelle 1232 RHug
  • Schadewell(e) 1224 RHug 1241 Cur c.1291 Tax
  • Shadewell 1338 Hosp
  • Shathewell(e) 1270 RGrav 1316 FA 1424 Banco 1428 FA 1497 Braye 1517 Hastings 1533 Fine
  • Shathwell 1518 Braye
  • Shawell 1507 Ipm 1510,1518 Visit

Etymology

'The boundary stream', v. scēað , wella . The stream on which the settlement developed crosses the county boundary (here formed by Watling Street) at right angles. Its name seems unlikely to refer to this particular boundary therefore. Possibly the stream once divided the territory of Cotesbach from that of Swinford at some time prior to the growth of Shawell.