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.

Dunsley

Early-attested site in the Parish of Whitby

Historical Forms

  • Dunesla 1086 DB
  • Dunesle 1086 DB 1219 Ass 1227 Whitby late12th Malton
  • Duneslea, Dunesleam 1139–48 Whitby 1181 P
  • Duneslac 1100–c.1115 YCh 1133 Whitby
  • Doneslac 1136 YCh 1314 NRS
  • Dunslaie 1145–8 YCh

Etymology

Further forms are without interest.'Dun's forest clearing' from the OE  pers. name Dun and leah. For -lac v. Helmsley 71supra .