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.

Dursley

Major Settlement in the Parish of Dursley

Historical Forms

  • Dersilege 1086 DB
  • Derseleg(a), Derseleie, Derseleye c.1153,1154–89 Berk 1195 P 1287 Ass 1328 Banco 1331 FF
  • Dersleye 1327 FF
  • Dereslege, Deresle, Deresleye 1216,1225 ClR 1281 FF 1286 Ipm
  • Dursel', Dursleg(h), Dursley(e) 1211–13 Fees c.1220 GlR 1224 ClR 1248 Ass 1558 Surv
  • Dursseley 1479 BrKal
  • Duresleg(a), Duresle, Duresley(e) 1212 Berk 1220 Cur 1307 WinchLB 1334 Ipm 1511 FF
  • Durisley, Durysley 1486,1491 FF
  • Durresley 1490 ECP
  • Dursleg(a), Durslegh, Dursley(e) 1220,1236 Fees c.1250 Berk 1255 FF 1646 PR
  • Dorsseley 1479 BrKal
  • Dorsley 16 Rent
  • Doursley 1536 FF
  • Deursley 1562 FF
  • Dursewell 1248 Ass

Etymology

'Dēorsige's clearing', v. lēah . The persistent early Derse -, Durse - spellings show that this is from OE  Dēorsige and not OE  dēor 'deer', as no doubt also in the local Dursewell 1248Ass . On the variant forms v. Phonol. § 21.