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.

Somerley

Early-attested site in the Parish of East and West Wittering

Historical Forms

  • Sum(m)erlege 1086 DB
  • Somerle 1248 Ass 1428 FA
  • Somerles' 1296 SR
  • Sumerlegh 1298 Ass

Etymology

v. leah . The first element is probably the ordinary word 'summer.' Hence perhaps, 'clearing used in summer.'