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.

Corley

Major Settlement in the Parish of Corley

Historical Forms

  • Comelie 1086 DB
  • Comelegha 1220 Bracton 1232 Ass
  • Comele(g) 1220 Bracton 1221 Ass 1279 Nott
  • Comlea 1182 P
  • Comleg(e) 1210 Cur 1221 Ass
  • Comley(e) 1265 Ipm 13th ADiii 1313 Cl
  • Corlee 1213 Cur
  • Corleia 1221 Ass
  • Corley(e) 1291 Tax 1315 Ipm

Etymology

This is possibly OE  corna leah , 'crane (or heron) clearing or wood,' v. cran , leah . Cf. Coreley (Sa), Comelie 1086 DB. The alternative possibility is to take it as a compound of cweorn , 'mill,' and leah . Cf. Comilo (PN K 567).