Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Bernardeslega 1178 P

• Bernardesleg(e) 1180 1235 ChrP 1372

• Bernardesle 1212 Fees 1231 Cl 1236 ChrP 1372 1372 et freq

• Bernardesl' 1235 Cl

• Bernardeslee 1235 ChrP 1372 FF 1236,1318

• Bernardesleya 1285 FA

• Bernardesleye 1285 1288 Ass 1289 FF

• Bernardesle(y)gh(e), Bernardesleia 1372 ChrP

• Bernardele 1280 Ass 1306 FF 1453 Midd

• Bernardleye 1372 ChrP

• Bernardisley 1477 Wim

• Benerdisley 1552 HarlCh

• Burnardesle 1189 Ch 1313 ChrP R1 1372

• Barnardsl' 1270 ChrP 1372

• Barnardeslegh 1479 IpmR

• Barnardesley 1552 DLCt

• Barnesley(e) 1535 Midd

• Barneslye, Barneslie 1545 Bartelot 16

• Barnerdisley 1552 HarlCh

• Barnsley 1591 DLMB

Etymology

'Beornheard's wood or clearing', from the OE  pers.n. Beornheard and lēah. The surname Bernard occurs locally, e.g. John Bernarde 1409Midd . There is mention of a mill here in n.d. (1372) ChrP .