Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Chesewald(e)ley 1296,1298 WCR

• Chesewellay, Chesewelley 1307 WCR 1316 ib

• Shesewelley 1326 ib

• Cheswellay, Cheswelley(e) 1307–1314 WCR 1590,1599 FF 1599 YDv 1608 FF

• Cheswellhay 1499 WCR6

• Cheswalleye, Cheswallay 1308–1316 WCR

Etymology

The first el. may be a compound of cēse 'cheese' and either wald 'high woodland, a wold' or wella 'a well' (with -wall - from the Merc  variant wælla , ME  (WMidl ) walle ). The latter is more likely since wald is not a word used in this region. The compound of cēse and wella remains in NCy dial. usage as chessel , cheswell 'a cheese press or cheese-vat' (recorded from 1721, NED s.v., EDD), cf. Cheswold (RNs.), Cheswellayes 103. 'Cheese-vat clearing', v. lēah .