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.

Great and Little Offley

Major Settlement in the Parish of Offley

Historical Forms

  • Offanlege 944–6 BCS812 14th
  • Offelei, Offelei altera 1086 DB
  • Offelege 1200 Cur 1303 FA
  • Offele Parva 1307 SR
  • Great Offle 1467 Pat
  • Offly 1638 Terrier
  • Oftley 1669 Sess
  • Uffeleye 1339 Cl 1382 IpmR
  • Affley 1608 Speed

Etymology

'Offa 's clearing or wood,' v. leah . Professor Bruce Dickins notes the tradition reported by Matthew Paris (Vitae Duorum Offarum 32) that Offa of Mercia died here.