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.

Horsley

Major Settlement in the Parish of Horsley

Historical Forms

  • Horselei(a) 1086 DB 1103–12 France
  • Horselega 1176 P
  • Horseley 1261 Ch 1316 FA 1614 Rec
  • Horselegh 1327 Madox 1335 Misc
  • Horsle 1221,1248 Ass
  • Horsleg' 1221 1271 Episc
  • Horslegh 1221 Ass 1293 MinAcct 1327 SR
  • Horsley(a) 1274 Episc 1644 PR

Etymology

'Horse clearing', v. hors , lēah , cf. the f.n. Horsecroft (infra ).