Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Chevrel 1086 DB

• Cheverel(le) 1166 RBE

• Cheverel 1179 P 1211 RBE 1218 FineR 1235,1242 Fees

• Cheverel Magna 1227 FF

• Cheverel Parva 1236 Cl

• Cheverelles 1198 Abbr

• Grete, Lytill Cheverell 1522 SR

• Capreolum 1103 France

• Chiverel Parva, Chiverel Magna 1242 Fees

• Chyverel 1250,1275 Ipm

• Litel Chyverel 1362 Cor

• Magna Chyverell, Parva Chyverell 1316 FA

• Gretchyverell 1554 FF

• Little Cheveroill 1301 Ch

Etymology

This name is pretty certainly identical with Keveral in St Martins by Looe (Co), Kewerel (sic)1226 ClR, Keverel I 2gg , 1302 FF, Keveral 1302, Overkeverel (l ), Nytherakeverel (l )1400, 1414Ass , Westkeverell 1445 Pat. Professor Max Förster suggests for these names a possible compound of a word related to Middle Welsh  kyfair , kyfar , kyuar , meaning (i) co-tillage, co-aration, (ii) a piece of land that is to be ploughed in common, and the word ial , discussed supra 6, s. n. Deverill. On the other hand it is difficult not to associate these names with Buckerell, Chackerell (PN D 548, 610), Chickerell (PN Do 153) and Petteril (Cu, cf. DEPN s. n .), all of which would seem to contain a second element -erel . Note also Tregatherall (Co), Tregaderel 1308 Exon, 1327SR , 1371Ct , Tregaderell 1577FF . In all these names the last syllable may be the British diminutive suffix -el (l ). Tre - is Cornish tre (v ), 'farm.' The second element in this name and the first element in the Devon, Dorset and Cumberland names is obscure. It is clear from some of the forms for Cheverell that the name was at one time associated with French  chevreuil , 'goat, roe-buck' (Lat  capreolus ).