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.

Musley Lane, Hill, Ho (Kelly)

Early-attested site in the Parish of Ware

Historical Forms

  • Mussley, Musley, Mustleyhedg' t.Hy6 Add
  • Mustley, Musskley, Muskeley t.Hy8 ib

Etymology

Musley Lane (6″), Hill, Ho (Kelly) are Mussley , Musley , Mustleyhedg 't. Hy 6Add , Mustley , Musskley , Muskeley t. Hy 8 ib., Muskeleye t. Ed 6, Muskley 1602Trinity . The second element is clearly leah. The first may be mus , 'mouse,' with intrusive t , sometimes confused with k , in the later forms, but no certainty is possible. Cf. Muskham (Nt) for a similar compound of mus and camp , and DEPN s. n .