Shoyswell
Early-attested site in the Parish of Etchingham
Historical Forms
- Scouueswelle 1100–23 BM
- Schoweswelle 1332 SR
- Sowella 13th ADiii
- S(h)oswelle 1296 SR 1320 Misc
Etymology
For further forms, v. Shoyswell Hundred supra 450. This is a difficult name. Probably the first element is a pers. name, originally a nickname, from OE sceoh , ME schowe , 'timid, shy.'The second is clearly wielle, hence 'Schowe's spring.' For the curious phonetic development to Shoy - we may note that according to the NED (s. v. shy ) the pronunciation shoy is very common even in dialects in which [ɔi] does not commonly correspond to StEng [ai]. The canting arms of the Shoyswell family, viz. 3 horseshoes, suggest a pronunciation [ʃuˑzwel] (J.E.R.).