Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Liuer(e)mere, Lyuer(e)mere 1221 ElyA 1437 et freq

• Leuer(e)mere 1251 ElyCouch 1580 Imb

• Lethermere 1381 1438 Imb

• Lethmere 1411 Ct

Etymology

Livermere is Liuer (e )mere , Lyuer (e )mere 1221ElyA et freq to 1437Ct , Leuer(e)mere 1251ElyCouch et freq to 1580 Imb, Lethermere 1381Ct , 1438 Imb, Lethmere 1411Ct . The name is probably identical with Livermere (Sf), Leuuremer c. 1050 (13th) KCD 907, Liuermere c. 1095 BuryDoc, Liuermera 1086 DB, Lefremere 1255 Cl, and possibly, as to the first element, with Liverpool (PN La 116–17) which has persistent Liuer - forms. Ekwall (DEPN) would associate the first element with the common word liver and apply it to the shape of the mere, but it is difficult to believe in two liver-shaped meres. Alternatively, he would connect Liverpool and Livermere with OE  lifrig , 'coagulated, clotted,' ModEng (dial.) livery (of soil), 'heavy, tenacious,' ME  livered , 'clotted,' applied once to the Red Sea. Neither of these words can give us the first element directly, but as they themselves must derive from the common word liver they suggest the possibility that lifermere might be used of a pool with thick, turbid water. From the semantic point of view the most natural association of Livermere would be with dial. levers , 'yellow flag,' going back to OE  leber , læfer , ME  leure , but if that is the etymology it would be difficult to explain the frequent and persistent liure - forms.