Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Breselai, Breselie 1086 DB

• Brerleia, Brerley, Brerlay 12 Brett 13 YDxii,236 1279–81 QW 1280 Ass3 1285 YI

• Brerelay, Brerelai, Brereleia, Brereley 1194 P l.12 Nost70d 13 1225 Nost71 1254 YI 1279 Ch 1589 FF

• Brirleye, Brirlay 1271 Ch 1304 Pat

• Bryerley 1566 FF

• Brearley 1588 WillY

• Breireley 1623 FF

Etymology

'Forest-glade or clearing amongst the briars', v. brēr , lēah , a p.n. found elsewhere in YW, usually as Brearley; cf. also Brerewell, Brier Butts f.n. infra for other local names with 'briar'. The modern form is due to the influence of ModE  brier , a form difficult to account for (cf. NED s.v.) and not found in literary sources before the sixteenth century; the two early spellings with Brir - are therefore interesting and suggest that the raising of brēr to brīr goes back to ME.