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.

Willesley

Major Settlement in the Parish of Willesley

Historical Forms

  • Wivleslei(e) 1086 DB
  • Wivelesleia, Wyvelesleia, Wyuelesleia, -elesleia, Wivelesle(e), Wivelesley(e) 1198 FF(P) 1208 FF 1212 Cur 1243 Fees 1330 Ass
  • Wivesleia 1197 FF
  • Wivesl' 1236 Cl
  • Wyueslay 1269 Ass
  • Wyllesley, Willesley 1348 Cor 1413 DbCh
  • Wilsley 1577 Saxton 1610 Speed

Etymology

'Wifel's clearing', v. lēah , cf. Willesey (PN C 102) for the same first element.

Places in the same Parish

None