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.

Nailsworth

Major Settlement in the Parish of Nailsworth

Historical Forms

  • Neilesw'nda c.1170 France
  • Nailleswurd 1196 P
  • Nailleswurðe 1197 P
  • Naillesworth 1327 SR
  • Nailesw(o)rth(e), Naylesw(o)rth(e), Neilesw(o)rth(e), Neylesw(o)rth(e) 1220–30 Berk 1248 Ass 1261 Berk 1298 GlR 1320 Ass 1434 Pat
  • Neyleswurth 1241 FF
  • Neyleswarde c.1250 Berk
  • Naylysworth, Naylisworth 1371 Ipm 1420 Pat
  • Nayliswurthe 1492 Rental
  • Nelesworth 1542 LP

Etymology

'Nægl's enclosure', v. worð . The same OE  pers.n. Nægl , cognate with OG  Nagal , is found in the nearby negles leag (f.n. infra ) and other p.ns. like Nailsbourne and Nailsea (So), as Ekwall notes (DEPN).