English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Old Shails

Other OS name in the Parish of Dymock

Historical Forms

  • Old Sheales 1576 PR
  • Old Shailles 1631 ib
  • Shayles 1649 GR892
  • Sheyles 1684 ib

Etymology

, Old Sheales 1576 PR, Old Shailles 1631 ib, Shayles (mess .) 1649GR 892, Sheyles 1684 ib 185 , cf. Sheilfelde 1549 Pat , a local surname Shail 1538 PR, etc. ( from e.ModE  shaile ' scarecrow ' or ME  schayle ' to stumble ' ) .