Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Cauerlei(a), Caverlei(a) 1086 DB

• Cauerlay, Caverlay, Caverley 14 Add 17 YDiv 1539 FF 1604

• Kaluerlaia, Kalverlaia, Kalverleia, Kalverlay(e) 12 Hy2 Calv l.12 YCh Hy3 Calv 1261 YI

• Caluerlai, Calverlai, Calverlay(a), Calverle(y) 1202–8 Ass J Abbr 1203 Cur e.13 Hem 1217–41 YDiii c.1220 Kirkst 1230–40 Bodl13 1258 RegAlbiii,48 1546 YChant

• Calverle(y) on Ayer c.1370 YDvi

• Calvirla(ia) J BM 1431 YDiii

• Cauverlay c.1250 Calv

• Cauuerley c.1260 ib

• Cawverley, Cawverlie 1404 Testi 1590 PRHfx

Etymology

'Clearing used for calves', from OE  calfra , gen.pl. of calf, and lēah . The DB and earliest spellings in Cav -, Cauv - are due to AN influence (IPN 113) and later ones with Cawv - to dial. vocalisation of -l -; [ka:v] is a modern spelling-pronunciation.