Shamley Green
Early-attested site in the Parish of Wonersh
Historical Forms
- Shambles 1544 SR
- Shameleigh 1548 LRMB
- Shamele c.1550 Onslow
- Shambley in Wonershe 1607 SrWills
- ate Shamele 1332 SR
Etymology
Shamley Green is Shambles 1544SR , Shameleigh 1548LRMB , Shamele c. 1550Onslow , Shambley in Wonershe 1607 SrWills, and was the home of Thomas ate Shamele (1332 SR). This name is clearly a compound of OE sceamel and leah , but the sense is uncertain. The meaning of OE sceamel is 'bench, table,' our later shamble (s ), but it would seem that it may have been used in some topographical sense, for the word occurs twice independently in OE charters, (i) in the phrase to þam scamelan (BCS 629, a Hampshire charter), (ii) in a similar to þan scamelan (BCS 691, a Dorset charter). It is difficult to see how this word (apparently a weak sceamela ) can be used in the literal sense 'bench, table' in the contexts. Middendorff (s. v. scamela ) notes that in German schemel is used of 'a ridge, bank, or the like,' apparently a transferred use of the ordinary schemel , 'bench.' If the same sense- development took place in English, then the sense might be 'clearing or woodland with ridges or banks on its surface.' For a topographical use of shambles we may compare the use of 'The Shambles' as a name for some shoals off Portland Bill (NED s. v .), unless this be a late nickname from its deadly character.