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.

Purley

Early-attested site in the Parish of Sanderstead

Historical Forms

  • Pirlee 1200 FF
  • Pirle 1208 Cur
  • Pirlea 1227 ClR
  • Pyrle 1342 Ass
  • Pirile 1201 Cur 1225,1241 Ass 1301 Pat
  • Pyrile 1255 Ass 1279 Ass
  • Pyrryle 1296 Ass
  • Pirelea 1220 HaRecSocv
  • Pyrelegh 1332 Pat
  • Purle 1220 Bracton
  • Purle(e) 1308 Seldxix 1332 SR 1346 FF
  • Westpurle 1332 SR 1342 Ass
  • Purleestret 1548 LRMB
  • Perele 1279 Ass
  • Westperle 1315 Ass

Etymology

'Pear-tree clearing or wood,' v. pyrige , leah .