Graveley
Major Settlement in the Parish of Graveley
Historical Forms
- Greflea 974 BCS1311 1334 ChronRams 964,1077(17th)
- Grevelee 1411 SR
- Grauel' 974 BCS1310 14th
- Gravele 974,1317(17th) ChronRams 1078 Rams c.1350 Pat 1434
- Gravelei 1086 DB
- Graveleye 1367 Pat
- Græflea 1060 Thorpe c.1350
- Groflea c.1350 Rams
Etymology
The second element here is clearly lēah, 'wood, clearing.' The first is uncertain. Some of the forms look as though the correct form was OE græf , 'pit, trench.' Some of the later forms suggest association rather with OE grǣfe, grāf(a), 'grove, thicket.' Somewhat similar difficulties of form are found in the not very distant Raveley (PN BedsHu 217), early Ræflea , later Rauelai .