Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Ciriel 1155,1194 RBE 1275 Cl

• Cyriel 1235 Fees 1265 Ipm

• Ceriel 1156,1157,1177,1195,1202 P

• Ceriol 1166 RBE

• Cheriel 1166 P 1324 FA

• Cheryell 1523 SR 1546 LP

• Chirieli (sic) 1198 Abbr

• Chiriel 1221 ClR 1235,1242 Fees 1265 Ipm 1275 RH 1280 Ch 1284 ADiv 1299,1315 Cl

• Chiriell 1281 Ass

• Chiryell 1402 FA

• Chiryel 1446 Pat

• Chyriel 1207 ClR 1242 Fees 1249,1268 Ass 1267 SarumCh 1277 FF 1297 Ipm

• Chyryell 1447 Pat

• Churiel 1275 Ipm t.Ed2,1345 Ass 1332 SR

• Churyel 1397 Pat

• Churhull 1294 Pat

• Chyrrele 1316 FA

• Cheryell al. Chirrell 1581 DKRxxxviii

• Chirrell t.Eliz WMxxi

• Cherrell 1637 Phillipps

• Cherle 1656 Devizes

• Cherell 1668 FF

Etymology

This is a difficult name. The second element is doubtless the British word ial , 'fertile upland,' etc. found in Deverill and Fonthill (supra 6, 190). For the first element Ekwall DEPN (s. n .) tentatively suggests the British caer , 'fort, camp,' common in the place-names of Wales, Cornwall and Cumberland, with reference to the camp at Oldbury Castle infra 262, but the full list of early spellings given above hardly allows this. It may be that we should, as suggested by Professor Max Förster, compare Polkerth (Co), pollicerr 977, pollcerr 1059 Earle, Polkere 1291 Exon. This may well be a stream-name, related to Ceri and Ceiriog (Wales), Carey (D), cf. Ekwall RN s. n. Carey. In Cherhill the reference might be to the small stream which joins the Marden at Quemerford. Professor Max Förster notes also OWelsh  ryt y cerr (LibLand 247), ryt answering to ModWelsh  rhyd , 'ford.'