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.

Great Horkesley and Little Horkesley

Major Settlement in the Parish of Great and Little Horkesley

Historical Forms

  • Horchesleia c.1130 Bodl
  • Horkesle, Horkesleye 1212 RBE 1307–12 Pat 1346 FA
  • Horkeslyghe 1332 FF
  • Horkyslegh 1428 FA
  • Horkisley 1460 Pat
  • Horskeleg' 1198 Cur 1199 Fees
  • Horscley 1546 LP
  • Horskesleigh 1573 Recov
  • Horkele(ghe) Vetus 1219 Fees 1238 SR
  • Horkele(ghe) sive Horquessele c.1450 Cluny
  • Horkesl(eg) Vet'i, Horkesl(eg) Magna, Horkesl(eg) Parua, Horkesl(eg) Monachorum, Horkeseye 1254–5 Ass
  • Orkele(e) 1309–10 Pat
  • Meche Orkesley 1501 ECP
  • Westhorslee 1375 IpmR
  • Hors(e)ley 1455 IpmR 1501 Ipm 1546 LP
  • Moche Hors(e)ley 1550 Pat
  • Great Harseley 1546 LP 1548 Pat

Etymology

Possibly 'foul clearing,' from OE  horsc , 'foul, dirty,' and leah.Cf. the development horsc-lic , horxlic , horslice (BT Supplt).Little Horkesley (in which was a Cluniac Priory) is west of Great Horkesley.

Places in the same Parish

None