Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• (to) cealcan gemere 826 BCS391 c.1250

• (æt) Ceolcum 955 BCS917 13th

• Cheolca, (to) Cheolcan 974 BCS1304 13th

• Chelche 1086 DB

• Chelk(e) 1175 P t.Ric1 Cur 1242 Fees 1263 StNicholas 1291 Tax 1305 Ass

• Shalke 1237 Cl

• Chalke 1242 FF 1316 FA

• Chawke 1547 FF

• Est Chawke, Westchawke 1553 AddCh

• Burchelke 1225 SR 1249,1268 Ass

• Burchalke 1268,1273 FF 1316 FA

• Boure Chalke 1276 StNicholas

• Bourchalk(e) 1312 Sarum 1332 SR 1356 Ass 1380 FF

• Bowerchalke 1547 SR

• Burghchalke 1279 Ass 1456 IpmR

• Burichalk 1306 ib

• Brode Chalk 1380 FF

• Brodchalke 1482 IpmR

• Brodechake 1581 Recov

• Bery Chalke 1482 IpmR

• Burr Chalke 1607 WMxx

Etymology

'Place of chalk, chalk down,' cf. Chalk (KPN 306). The forms are a little surprising. The form ceolc is not known elsewhere in OE and the ME  form is regularly chalke rather than chelke . The dative plural forms may be explained perhaps from the early existence of the two settlements. Broad is used in the sense of 'great' or 'chief.' Cf. Broad Clyst (PN D 573) and Greatweek (ib. 426). Also called East . As the g (h ) is not found in the earlier forms it may be that the first element is (ge )būr , 'peasant,' or (ge )būra (gen. pl.) rather than burh , with later folk-etymologising to burgh . Cf. (ge)burinfra 424. Straton (WM xxxii, 304–5) notes that in Chalke in the great Pembroke Survey the tenants paid certain grain rents called 'bower corn' which varied according to 'bower custom.'