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.

Bletchingley

Early-attested site in the Parish of Rotherfield

Historical Forms

  • Blegingel' 1262 Ipm
  • Blec(c)hingelegh(e) 1279 Ass 1327 SR
  • Blecchyngelegh 1296,1332 SR
  • Blacchingelegh 1305 Ipm
  • Bletchingelegh 1340 NI
  • Blettchingden al. Blettchingley 1644 SRS19,47

Etymology

Bletchingley is Blegingel '1262 Ipm (p) (Pullein), Blec(c)hingelegh (e )1279Ass , 1327 SR, Blecchyngelegh 1296, 1332 SR, Blacchingelegh 1305 Ipm, Bletchingelegh 1340 NI (all p), Blettchingden al. Blettchingley 1644 SRS 19, 47. As all the early forms are derived from pers. names, this name may be of manorial origin and derive from the place of that name in Surrey. If of local origin, it is the 'leah of the people of Blæcca ,' perhaps a forest pasture of the people of East Blatchington.