Chilmark
Major Settlement in the Parish of Chilmark
Historical Forms
- æt Chieldmearc 929–40 BCS745 14th
- Childmerk(e) 1195 Wilton 1242 Fees
- cigel marc, to cigelmerc broce 984 KCD641 14th
- Chilmerc 1086 DB 1166,1194 P 1195 Wilton 1206 FF
- Chilmerk c.1190 Wilton 1289 Ass
- Chylmerk 1302 Sarum
- Chilmark 1306 Ass
- Chelmerk 1279,1289 Ass
- Chelmark 1326 Pat
- Chelesmerke 1289 Ass
- Chilemark 1297 Pat
- Chilemerk 1351 Ass
Etymology
Ekwall (Studies , 165) is doubtless right in taking the form Chieldmearc to be a piece of folk-etymology for the more correct cigelmearc and in explaining the name on the basis of the latter form. For this name he suggests a first element cigel , a West Saxon form of Anglian cegel (cognate with OHG kegil , 'peg, pole,' Swedish dial, kage , 'stumps') found in Cheal (L), Cegle (dat.) 852 (c. 1200) BCS 464. Chilmark must have been so named from some mark or sign formed by a pole on the site of the present village.