Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• 'pasture called Priureswode' 1274 Ipm

• Prioureswode 1322 CottCh

• Lytelprioreswode, Westprioreswode 1403,1409 Weld1

• claus' voc' Prioreswode 1409 Ct 1410 Weld1

• Pryeruswode 1420 Weld1

• Pryeryswode 1501 Weld1

• Lytelpryourreswode, Lytelpryereswode, Lytelpriereswode 1435–38 Weld1

• Estpriereswode, Westpryereswode 1438 Weld1

• Lytelpryouryswode, Mochelpryouryswode 1444 Weld1

• Litulpriourswode, Mochilpriourswode 1445 Rent

• (Little) Bryers Wood 1839 TA

Etymology

Briar's Wood (ST 585090), 'pasture called Priureswode '1274 Ipm, Prioureswode 1322CottCh , Lytelprioreswode , Westprioreswode 1403, 1409Weld 1, claus ' voc ' Prioreswode 1409Ct , 1410Weld 1, Pryeruswode 1420Weld 1, Pryeryswode 1501Weld 1, Lytelpryourreswode , Lytelpryereswode , Lytelpriereswode 1435–38Weld 1, Estpriereswode , Westpryereswode 1438Weld 1, Lytelpryouryswode , Mochelpryouryswode 1444Weld 1, Litulpriourswode , Mochilpriourswode 1445Rent , close called Proyers Wood 1678, Bryars Wood c.1685Batten , (Little ) Bryers Wood 1839TA , cf. also Prio (u )r (e )swod (e )lane , Priereswod (e )lane , Pryour (y )swod (e )lane , Pryeryswod (e )lane 1406–1504Weld 1, Pryourwod (e )lane , Priourwod (e )lane 1446–51Weld 1, Prioreslane 1409, 1413Weld 1, Pryerysclose 1502Weld 1. 'Wood belonging to a prior or to someone called Prio(u)r', v. prior , wode , lane , lȳtel , micel . The surname was relatively common in Do in medieval times, cf. e.g. John le Priour 1327 SR (taxed in Nether Coombe in Sherborne par.), John le Priour 1332 ib (taxed in Holnest par.).