Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Shrimpilmers, Shrympulmersh t.Hy3 Chertsey

• Shympelnersh (sic) 1317 ChertseyB

• Shrimpelersh 1331 FF

• Schyrmpelhersh (sic) 1332 SR

• Sympulmershe t.Hy8 MinAcct

• Shrympulmarshe 1535 VE

• Simpylmers Grove 1536 LP

• Simple Marsh 1728 Cox

• Simplemus 1765 R 1785 Cary

Etymology

Simplemarsh is Shrimpilmers , Shrympulmersh t. Hy 3 Chertsey, Shympelnersh (sic)1317ChertseyB , Shrimpelersh 1331 FF (p), Schyrmpelhersh (sic)1332 SR (p), Sympulmershe t. Hy 8MinAcct , Shrympulmarshe 1535 VE, Simpylmers Grove 1536 LP, Simple Marsh 1728 Cox, Simplemus 1765 R, 1785 Cary. The second element in this name is mersc , 'marsh,' with occasional confusion with ersc . The first is probably a compound of ME  schrimpe and pul , 'pool.' There is a ME  schrimpe , 'a diminutive person,' deriving probably from a lost adj. denoting something small. For the affinities of this adj., see Torps. vv . skramp , skreppa vb. 1, and Franck s. v. schrompelen . In that case the name means 'marsh by the small pool.'