Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Quedesley(a), Quedesleia, Quedesleg', Quedesleye, Quedesl' 1135–54,1148–63 Glouc c.1210 GlR 1221 Ass 1222–8 Hopt 1236 FF c.1560 Surv

• Quedisley 1276 RH 1287 QW

• Quedsley 1654 PR

• Cudesleya J Monast

• Quedelee 1201 Cur

• Quicslaye 1216 ClR

• Whedeslegh', Whydesleye 1306 Ass

• Queddesley(e) 1308 Ipm 1540 LP 1597 FF

• Queddysley(e) 1458 FF

• Quod(de)sley 1560 FF 1575 Comm

• Quodgley 1577 M 1675 Ogilby

• Quedg(e)ley 1610,1648 FF

Etymology

'Dirt clearing', v. cwēad , lēah . OE  cwēad 'dung, dirt, filth' may also have meant something more specific like 'dung-hill', or it may have been used in a derivative pers.n. to account for the gen.sg. in this p.n.: cf. also Quedley (Sx 453), from ME  cwede 'bad' and Quidhampton (W 226). Cf. Phonol. § 44 (b ).