Shirley

Shirley, Southampton
settlement
parish:
county:
coords:
Southampton
Hampshire
SU4013
refce: HANTSLOC.t
old map: 25inch County Series map -- Hants LXV.6
Shirley
otherwise: Sirelei, 1086; Schirleg', 1227; Sherley, 1253
refce: Coates 1989
SHIRLEY in Millbrook, suburb of Southampton
There are two possibilities: either Old English 'bright wood/clearing', in a compound form with an uninflected adjective; or 'shire wood/clearing', but there is no evidence that a shiremoot ever met here. If such evidence ever turns up, it will probably show that the name dates from the period when Southampton was the capital of the county and gave it its name. Cf SHERFIELD-ON-LODDON, where Shirley hundred is also discussed. If the second interpretation is right, there may be an implied contrast between PORTSWOOD 'wood of the town' and Shirley 'wood of the shire'.
domesday
 Sirelei
Listed in Domesday Book
- Manesbrige Hundred - Hantescire
Period - 11th century
refce: Domesday Book 1086 (29.5)
TERRA RADVLFI DE MORTIMER ... Isd~e Rad. ten. SIRELEI . Cheping tenuit de rege E ...
domesday
 Sirelei
Listed in Domesday Book
- Manebrige Hundred - Hantscire
Period - 11th century
refce: Moody 1862 (Domesday)
domesday
 Melebroc
Listed in Domesday Book
- Manebrige Hundred - Hantscire
Period - 11th century
refce: Moody 1862 (Domesday)
   Old Hampshire Gazetteer - JandMN: 2001