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.

Apsley Common

Early-attested site in the Parish of Little Munden

Historical Forms

  • Hapseleye 14th ADiii
  • Haspeleye t.Ed3 Rental
  • Happisley 1556 AOMB

Etymology

Apsley Common (6″) is Hapseleye 14th AD iii, Haspeleye t. Ed 3Rental , Happisley 1556AOMB . The persistent initial h forbids our taking the first element to be OE  æps, 'aspen.' We may have OE  hæpse , 'hasp,' as in Hopsford (PN Wa 121), the reference being doubtless to the sharp bend which the stream makes here at this point. 'Clearing in the bend,' v. leah