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.

Ozleworth

Major Settlement in the Parish of Ozleworth

Historical Forms

  • Oslan wyrþ 940 BCS764 12th
  • Osleuuorde 1086 DB
  • Oslew(o)rda, Oslewarda, Oslew(o)rth(e), Oslewurth c.1150 Monast 1166 RBE e.13 Berk 13 HMC5 1220 Cur 1327 SR
  • Oseleworth, Oselewurth 1220 Fees 1220 Cur
  • Oselewrthi 1220 Bracton
  • Olesworthe 12 Glouc
  • Hoheleswrdi e.13 BM
  • Oselw(u)rth(e), Osilw(u)rth(e), Osilworth(e), Osilwrd' 13 Glouc 1207 Abbr 1221 Ass 1540 LP
  • Osewurthe 1221 Ass
  • Wosel(e)worth, Wosylworth 1287 Ass 1535 VE 1538 TRMB 1600 FF
  • Wosselworth 16 Rent 1537 Hale
  • Wowl(e)sworth 1577,1610 M
  • Owselworthe als. Woselworthe 1589 FF

Etymology

Possibly 'blackbird enclosure', v. ōsle , worð (with traces of SW worðig ). Since, however, worð is usually combined with pers.ns, more probable is OE  ōsle used as a pers.n. or an OE  Ōsla proposed by Ekwall as a derivative in -ela of names like Ōsa , Ōsbald , etc. On the later form Wosel - cf. Phonol. § 42 (a ).