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.

Osmotherley

Major Settlement in the Parish of Osmotherley

Historical Forms

  • Asmundrelac 1086 DB
  • Osmunderle, Osmunderley(e), Osmunderlai(e) 1088 LVD50d 1219 Ass 1281 Ch 1418 YI
  • Osmundeslay 12 RegAlbi.67d
  • Osmundelai, Osmundeleye 1220 Ass 1231 Ebor
  • Osemunderl' 1280 Cl c.1291 Tax
  • Osmondirlay 1398 Pat
  • Osmoderl(a)y 1536 YChant 1558 RichWills
  • Osmothrly 1577 NCyWills

Etymology

'Asmund's clearing' v. leah . The first element is from ON  Ásmundr , gen. Ásmundar ; on forms with Os -v. Osgodby (Pick) 104supra . For -lac v. Helmsley 71supra . A hybrid formation with a Norse inflexion of the first element suggests very intimate association of the Norse and Anglian speech.

Places in the same Parish