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.

Rockley Copse etc

Early-attested site in the Parish of Bessels Leigh

Historical Forms

  • (on) hrocan leage 959 BCS1047 c.1200
  • (villa de) Rokeleye 1284 Ass
  • Roucle 1304 Lyell l.14th
  • Rokeleghe 1428 FA
  • Rockley Close 1756 Bodl
  • Rookley Wood 1830 OS

Etymology

Rockley Copse etc., (on ) hrocan leage 959 (c. 1200) BCS 1047, Hrocanlea 11th C .U. L . KK 3 .21 , Rokele 1229 1316 FA, (villa de ) Rokeleye 1284Ass , Roucle 1304 (l. 14th) Lyell (p), Rokeleghe 1428 FA, Rockley Close 1756Bodl , Rookley Wood 1830 OS, 'Hrōca's clearing', v. (a)h; Feilitzen (294) considers that there was a pers.n. *Hrōc , from OE  hrōc 'rook', of which this would be the weak form.