Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Bolles(c)hagh(e) 1292 MinAcct 1341 Surv 1342 Ext

• Bolleshawe 1341 Surv

• Bollideshage 1292 BfdAntii,72

• Bollideschaye 1296 MinAcct

• Bolneshag(h)e 1341 Surv 1342 Ext

• Boldshawe 1495 WillYk 1606 WYD

• Bottshawe (sic for Boll'shawe) 1545 WillY

• Boldshaye als. Bollershawe 1607 FF

Etymology

Boldshay (lost, but surviving as Boldshay St near Bradford Moor), Bolles (c )hagh (e )1292MinAcct , 1341Surv , 1342 Ext, Bolleshawe 1341Surv , Bollideshage 1292 BfdAnt ii, 72, Bollideschaye 1296MinAcct , Bolneshag (h )e 1341Surv , 1342 Ext, Boldshawe 1495 WillYk, 1606 WYD, Bottshawe (sic for Boll 'shawe )1545 WillY, Boldshaye als. Bollershawe 1607 FF. 'Copse of pollards', v. sceaga ; cf. Bowl Shaw 100supra , Bolledesaghe (Seacroft) pt. iv, the Bowshaws (Arthington) pt. iv infra .The first el. appears to be a ME  bolled (perhaps from bola 'tree-trunk' with the suffix -ed 3 (v. EPN i, 146)), literally 'provided with tree- trunks', here doubtless used of 'pollarded trees, that is, trees cut down to the trunks'. The Bolne - spellings are paralleled by a similar variation in the ME pa.part. bollen for bolled 'swollen'.