Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Alresete Hy3 For 1285 ib

• Olresete 1285,1299 For

• Orlesete 1285 For 1330 Ass

• Orleshete 1285 For

• Aldershete 1285 For

• Ellirsete 1299 For

• Ollerset(e), Ollersett(e) 1330 Ass Ed4 DuLa

• Ollrensete 1330 Ass

• Ollers(s)hed 1429 BelCh 1433 FF 1511 Lanc

• Olershed 1560 FF

• Oulerset(t), Owlerset(t) 1577 Saxton 1610 Speed 1670 Moulton 1758 Bowen

• Nether Ollersett 1550 FF

Etymology

'Pasture or fold by the alders', from alor and either sǽtr or (ge)set.It is difficult to distinguish between these two elements from the forms but topographically it is perhaps the former. It is high moorland above 1000 feet providing typical upland sheep-pasture. The form Ellir - is from ON  elri 'alder'. For forms in Oul -, Owl -, v. supra xlvii. It is distinguished once as Nether Ollersett 1550FF , v. neoðera . Cf. Thornset infra 153.