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.

West Horsley

Major Settlement in the Parish of West Horsley

Historical Forms

  • (on) Horsalæge 871–89 BCS558
  • Horslege c.1060 KCD896 c.1150
  • Orselei 1086 DB
  • Westhorsleg 1225 Ass
  • Westhorslegh 1243 FF 1297 Ipm 1336 Cl

Etymology

'Horses' clearing,' v. leah . East and West Horsley are only a mile apart, and probably at one time formed one settlement.