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.

Ashley

Early-attested site in the Parish of Long Bredy

Historical Forms

  • Asseleghe 1246 FF
  • Ashle 1288 Ass 1340 NI
  • Asshele 1325 Pat 1332 SR 1447,1461 MinAcct
  • Ashly farme 1648 SC
  • Ashley 1811 OS
  • Ayshlegh 1251 Hutch3
  • Ayshleg' 1382 Cl
  • Ayhsleg(h) 1251 Ch, AD II, Cart Ant
  • Hassel(e) 1275 RH 1280 Ass
  • Essele 1280 Ass
  • Hesele 1280 QW
  • Eslee 1285 FA

Etymology

'Ash-tree wood or woodland clearing', v. æsc , lēah . There is still some woodland here, cf. Ashley Chase Ho infra .