Mursley
Major Settlement in the Parish of Mursley
Historical Forms
- Muselai 1086 DB
- Musel' 1199 Cur
- Mureslai 1147–66 AddCh
- Murselai 1152–8 NLC
- Merselai 1155 NLC
- Meselaie 1160–5 NLC
- Murslai c.1180 Miss 14th
- Mureslea 1189 P Ri P
- Meresle 1195 Cur(P) 1211 Fines 1350 Ipm
- Muresle 1200 Cur 1201 Fines 1241,1242 Ass 1341 Pat 1350 Ipm
- Mursle(e) 1252 Ipm 1392 Pat
- Murreslee 1369 Cl, AD i
- Moresley 1526 LS
- Murseley 1564 BM
- Muresley 1766 J
Etymology
The early forms of this name show clearly that the suffix is leah. The first element must be a lost pers. name Myrsa , which we find again in a form with assimilation of rs to ss in Missenden infra . In explanation of such a name two possibilities suggest themselves: (1) Myrsa may be from *Myrgsa , earlier *Myrgisa , a pers. name derived from the stem of OE myrge , 'merry,' (2) a derivative of the Germ. stem *murs found in Germ. morsch , 'friable,' MHG zermürsen , 'to crush.' Beyond that we cannot go at present.