Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Cherueshale 1086 DB

• Kirueshala 1194 P

• Kirueshale 1195 ib

• Kyrueshal(e) 1197 1218 DukRec 1301 Ass 1327,1332 SR

• Kyrveshale

• Kyrneshale 1196 P 1305 FF

• Kyrnesal(e) 1280 Ass 1320 FF

• Kirnesale 1330 1335 For

• Kyrnessale 1310 Ipm

• Kyrneshal 1312 Ass

• Kyrneshall 1302,1316 FA

• Kirneshall 1305 Ipm

• Kirnshale 1325 Pat

• Kyrnsalle 1496 NtIpm

• Kirnehale 1344 Ass

• Kernesale 1356 ib

• Kirsale 1361 Pat 1537 LP

• Chirshall 1551 Wills

• Kyrneshale al. Cressall 1526 Recov

• Kynersall al. Kirsall 1532 Wills

• Kyrneshall al. Cresshall 1549 FF

• Kersey 1708 ParReg(Maplebeck) 1720 ib

Etymology

The DB form is wrongly given by Ekwall (DEPN) as Cherneshale and this very much weakens the case for taking the first element as Cyrn - rather than Cyru -, with u for v. Probably we have here as in Fisherton Anger from Aucher (PN W 22–3) scribal confusion with u and n leading ultimately to sound substitution of n for u (v ).

The interpretation of Cherues -, Kirues - is not easy. Professor Bruce Dickins suggests that we have here OE  cyrf , 'cutting,' or the like, a mutated form of OE  corf , 'cutting,' found in Corfe (Do). There is a well-marked valley cutting into the hill here and it is possible that Kersall is a genitival compound 'nook or corner of (or by) the sharply-cut corner.'