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.

Shirley

Early-attested site in the Parish of Croydon

Historical Forms

  • Shirle(ye) 1314 AddCh 1332 SR
  • Shyrley 1461 FF
  • Chirley 1491 Deed
  • Sherlegh 1498 Deed 1503 Ipm
  • Sherley 1528 FF
  • Shurley 1539 LP

Etymology

Shirley is Shirle (ye )1314AddCh (p), 1332 SR (p), Shyrley 1461 FF, Chirley 1491Deed , Sherlegh 1498Deed , 1503 Ipm, Sherley 1528FF , Shurley 1539 LP. Probably 'bright clearing,' v. scir , leah . It is probably only a coincidence that it lies near the shire - boundary, between Surrey and Kent.