Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Suruehel 1086 DB

• Suruenhulle 1255 Ass

• Schoruenhulle 1275 SR

Etymology

This place has been commonly identified with Sarehole in Yardley. The new form from the Assize Roll confirms the accuracy of the DB form and makes it extremely unlikely that Sarehole can represent it from the phonological point of view.Further, the entry concerns Bromsgrove and King's Norton and makes Yardley still more unlikely. Finally, the old identification breaks into the topographical order of the berewicks noted infra 356 n. The first element is probably an OE  name Scurfa .For the possibility of this as an English in distinction from a Danish name Scurfa (which is well established), see Sheraton in PN NbDu 176. The name Sceorf (which must be allied to it) is found in Shareshill (St), DBServesel .

After the above was written, there came to light in WoC 61 b the field-name Scurfhemeburne in Stoke Prior. The first part is clearly one of those irrational formations in hæme noted under Doddenham supra 46, and the 'Scurf -dwellers' from whom the burn was named clearly belonged to Shurvenhill .This confirms in interesting fashion the geographical arrangement of the DB berewicks of Bromsgrove. It is placed in DB between Fockbury and Woodcote, and these lie near the Stoke Prior boundary of Bromsgrove.