Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Cherlewell 1226 FF

• Cherlewall 1226 DodsN

• Chorl(l)ewell(e) 13 Nost138d c.1250–8 YDiii 1311 Ch

• Chorelwell 1296 WCR

• Chorlwell 1499 BM

• Churlwell 1418 YI 1489 YDiv

• Churlewell 1548 TestLds

• Chirlewell 1541 WillY

• Charlewell als. Churwell 1565 FF

• Chorwell 1503 YDiv

• Charwell 1608 FF

• Churwell 1560,1583,1593 FF 1760 PRChp

• Cheruhill 1675 Og

• Cherril 1727 LdsM

• Churill 1766 PRRth

Etymology

'The peasants' well', v. ceorl , wella . The spellings Cherle -, later Char (le )-, are the more normal YW spellings, but those in Chorle -, Chur (l )- as well as the single early spelling in -wall (from Merc  wælla) are more characteristic of the WMidl (cf. Phonol. §§ 6, 21).