Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Bulesdun, Bulesdon(e) Hy2 Madox 1221 Ass c.1270 For 1291 Heref

• Buleston' 1220 Fees 1248 Ass

• Bullesdon 1221 Eyre 1452,1520 FF

• Bullesden 1537 MinAcct

• Bullesden als. Bolsden als. Boldsden 1612 FF

• Bolesduna, Bolesdon(e) 1240 Monast c.1275 For 1374 Ipm

• Bolesden(e) 1248 Ass 1327 SR

• Bollesdone c.1275 For

• Boleden' 1248 Ass

• Bolede' 1259 Misc

• Buleden' 1248 Ass

• Boulsdon 1591 FF

• Bowlesdon 1612 ib

Etymology

This name presents similar problems to Bolsover (Db 214). Ekwall takes the first el. to be OE  bulan -lǣs 'bullock pasture', but a contracted gen. p.n. formation, Bulan-hylles dūn is also possible (v. bula , hyll , dūn and Bull Hill infra ); cf. a similar formation in Yartleton (192infra ). Cameron prefers an OE  pers.n. Bull or Boll , strong forms of the OE  pers.ns. Bulla (suggested by p.ns.) or Bol (l )a (Redin 85, Feilitzen 205), but so far no other evidence for the strong pers.n. Bul (l ) or Bol (l ) has been adduced. v. dūn 'hill, down'.