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.

Brinsley

Major Settlement in the Parish of Brinsley

Historical Forms

  • Brunesleia 1086 DB
  • Bruneslega 1196 P
  • Brunesleya c.1200 Wollaton
  • Brunesleg(h), Brunesley(e) 1212,1242 Fees 1214 FineR 1236 FF
  • Brunisley 1279 Ipm
  • Brynesley c.1185 GenNSxvi 15th
  • Brinesley 1280 Ass
  • Brunnesley(e) 1198 P 1258 Ass 1280 ADv 1303 Ebor
  • Bronnesly 1250 Fees
  • Brunnesle 1258 FF
  • Bronnesle 1328 Ipm
  • Brinnesleye 1316 FA
  • Brimesley 1331 Ipm
  • Brynnesley c.1350 Beauvale
  • Brynnesley Asshe 1490 ADi

Etymology

No certainty is possible with regard to the name but it is probably to be interpreted as the 'leahof one Brūn ,' with later development of un to in as found frequently elsewhere (cf. Introd. xxii). A man named Brun held four bovates here TRE, but as we cannot be sure that leah was a living element at that time, it would be a little rash to assume that he himself gave name to the place.

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site