Horsell
Major Settlement in the Parish of Horsell
Historical Forms
- Horsele t.Hy3 For
- Horisell t.Hy3 For 1255,1259,1279 Ass
- Horisselle t.Hy3 For
- Horishull t.Hy3 For 1279 QW 1307 Ass
- Horishill 1238 FF
- Horisshull 1326 Cl
- Horisull(e) t.Hy3 For t.Hy3 ADiii 1371 FF
- Horishill 1239 FF
- Horishull 1290,1360 WAM
- Horshell' 1232 Cl
- Horshill 1446 FF 1450–3 ECP 1719 Aubrey
- Horsull 1237 Chertsey
- Horshull 1272,1279 Ass 1288 WAM 1291 Tax 1363 Cl
- Horsill(e) 1258 FF 1719 Aubrey
- Horeshull(e) c.1270 Winton 1298 Ass 1336 WAM 1344 FF
- Oreshull 1316 FA
- Horesulle 1317,1352 FF 1362 WAM
- Horeswell 1348 FF
- Horsewell 1674 FF
- Horsell 1487 SrWills
- Horzell 1595 Musters
Etymology
Possibly 'muddy shelf or slope,' v. scylf , the first element being OE horig , 'foul, dirty.' For this adj. in a p.n. cf. Holyford (PN D 622). For early and persistent ll < lf cf. Gomshall infra 248 and Raskelf (PN NRY 26). It is surprising that there are no early forms in lf or lv , but we should note that we have no forms earlier than the 13th century, and that early association with hors and hyll (ME hulle ) would readily arise.