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.

Boseley

Early-attested site in the Parish of Westbury on Severn

Historical Forms

  • Bosley(a) 1248 Ass 1595 Comm
  • Boseley(e), Boseleghe, Bosele c.1270,c.1275 For 1287 Ass 1561 FF
  • Borseley 1544 LP 1554 FF

Etymology

Boseley, Bosley (a )1248Ass , 1595Comm , Boseley (e ), Boseleghe , Bosele c. 1270, c. 1275For , 1287Ass et passim to 1561FF , Borseley 1544 LP, 1554FF . 'Bōsa's clearing', from the OE  pers.n. Bōsa , but the first el. could be bōs 'cowstall' or bors , a spiky plant. v. lēah .