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.

Shrewley

Major Settlement in the Parish of Shrewley

Historical Forms

  • Seruelei 1086 DB
  • Scraueleia 1150 ReadingA
  • Schrauelee t.Ed1 CartMisc
  • S(c)hraueleye 1300 For 1320 Ipm
  • Shreveleg 1198,1242 Fees 1239 FF 1332 SR
  • Screu(e)le(y) 1236 FF t.Hy3 Ipm c.1250 ADiv 1330 Misc
  • Shreweleg 1289 Ass
  • Shrewley 1518 ADv
  • Shrewleyhethe 1404 Ct
  • Shereveleye 1307 Abbr
  • Shireueleye 1327 SR
  • Shirrevesleye 1349 Pat 1354 Ipm 1364 IpmR
  • Shyreueslye 1365 ADv
  • Shrawley 1518–29 ECP 1544 LP
  • Shirrevesley al. Shrawley 1561 Recov
  • Shroley 1535 VE
  • Shrowley 1628 Sess

Etymology

This would seem to be a compound of OE  scræf , 'cave, pit' (gen. pl. form), and leah. Cf. Johnston (PN EW 443). In later times there has been confusion through popular etymology with 'shrew' and 'sheriff.'

Places in the same Parish