The name Chelsea, according to Faulkner and Lysons, only began to be used in the early part of the eighteenth century. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries the place was known as Chelsey, and before that time as Chelceth or Chelchith. The very earliest record is in a charter of King Edward the Confessor, where it is spelt Cealchyth. In Doomsday Book it is noted as Cercehede and Chelched. The word is derived variously. Newcourt ascribes it to the Saxon word _ceald_, or _cele_, signifying cold, combined with the Saxon _hyth_, or _hyd_, a port or haven. Norden believes it to be due to the word "chesel" (_ceosol_, or _cesol_), a bank "which the sea casteth up of sand or pebble-stones, …
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