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.

Hurley

Early-attested site in the Parish of Kingsbury

Historical Forms

  • Hurle t.Hy1 BMFacs
  • Hurlega c.1180 Wollaton 1658 FF
  • Hurnlee c.1180 Wollaton
  • Hurnlega 1199 BM 1221,1262 Ass
  • Hurnelei t.John BM
  • Hernlega 1199 CottCh
  • Hornle 1262 Ass
  • Horleye 1262,1285 1327 SR

Etymology

'Wood or clearing in the corner,' v. hyrne , leah . Cf. Hurley (Berks), Herlei 1086 DB, Hurnleia 1106–21 Hurley Charters, Hurnle 1219, 1248FF . Dugdale (764) noted the meaning of the name and suggested that it was so called because it lay in the utmost corner of Kingsbury Lordship.