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.

Oakley

Major Settlement in the Parish of Oakley

Historical Forms

  • Accleya 1060 KCD809 14th
  • Achelai 1086 DB
  • Achelea 1174 P
  • Akelai, Akelay 1176,1179 P
  • Aklye 1220 LS
  • Akle 1227 Ass 1247 Ass 1279 RH 1346,1428 FA
  • Acle 1236 1242 Fees868 1247 Ass 1267 Ch 1276 Ass 1291 Tax 1292 Cl 1301 Ipm 1302 FA 1307 Ass
  • Ocle 1247,1276,1287 Ass 1291 NI 1316 FA 1414 IpmR
  • Okle(e) 1276 Ass 1328 Cl 1344 Ipm 1346 FA 1378 IpmR
  • Okele 1390–2 CS 1428 FA
  • Ocley 1402 ADiv 1538 BM
  • Occley 1535 VE
  • Ockley 1574 BM
  • Ockeley 1605 NQi
  • Ockley or Oakley c.1750 Bowen

Etymology

'Oak clearing' (v. ac , leah ) with later development of ac to oke , followed by shortening in the consonant-group. In recent times the long vowel has been restored under the influence of the independent word. The history of Oakley (Bk) is similar.

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site