Swallowcliffe
Major Settlement in the Parish of Swallowcliffe
Historical Forms
- rupis irundinis, id est Swealewanclif 940 BCS756 13th
- Svaloclive 1086 DB
- Swaleweclive c.1155 StOsmund 1236,1242 Fees
- Swaleweklive c.1240 Wilton
- Swaleweclyve 1294 Pat
- Svaleweclive 1202 FF
- Swaluweclive 1277 Ipm
- Swaleclive 1241 FF
- Swaleclyve 1277 Ipm 1289 Ass 1316 FA
- Swalfklyfe 1276 Ipm
- Swalowcliffe al. Swaclyff 1546 LP
- Swacliff 1594 Recov
- Swakley 1618 Sess
- Swaklie 1648 WMxxxvii
Etymology
Probably 'swallow clif or slope,' but swealwa , 'swallow,' as the name of a stream is also possible. Cf. the history of Swalecliffe on the Swale (KPN 281), earlier swalewanclif (BCS 1345).Swalcliffe (PN O 201) is well away from any stream and must contain the bird-name. It shows the same development to Swakley as the Wiltshire name.