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.

Brockley Wood

Early-attested site in the Parish of Bolsover

Historical Forms

  • Brechelay 1199 ChR
  • Brochelay 1200 ib
  • Brockel' Brockele 1242 P
  • Brokle 1330 Ass
  • Brokley 1535 Val
  • Brockley 1657 Ct

Etymology

Brockley Wood, Brechelay 1199 ChR, Brochelay 1200 ib, Brockel ' Brockele 1242 P, Brokle 1330Ass , Brokley 1535 Val, Brockley 1657Ct . Probably 'brook clearing', v. brōc , lēah ; Hawke Brook rises beside the wood. The spelling Breche - is clearly an error for Broche -.