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.

Bealeys Plantation

Early-attested site in the Parish of Lockington

Historical Forms

  • (grangia de) Belag(a) 1150 Meaux 1150–60 Melsa 1154–60 YCh1119–20 1221 FF
  • Belagh(e), Belagha 1156 Meaux 1178 Warter 1210–20 Melsa 1287 BevAct c.1400 Melsa
  • bosco iuxta Belag(a) 1156 Meaux
  • Belag(a) Grange 1535 VE
  • Beghladhe 1153 Meaux
  • Begheledhe 1153 YCh1384
  • Bellagha 1154–60 YCh1118
  • Beghlay 1343 FF
  • Belley 1527 Test
  • Great Byley 1547 FF

Etymology

The early forms with gh , unknown to Ekwall, make it difficult to accept the explanation of this name given in Studies , 159. Rather we must associate it with Byland (PN NRY 194).For that name a pers. name Bega was suggested. Perhaps we should rather take it to be the word bjúgr , discussed under Bewholme supra 78 and denoting a bend. Bealey is in a bend of a stream and Byland is almost surrounded by one. v. leah .

Places in the same Parish

Major Settlement