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.

Isleworth

Major Settlement in the Parish of Isleworth

Historical Forms

  • Gislheresuuyrth 695 BCS
  • Gistelesworde 1086 DB
  • Istlesworde 1100–35 Ch 1330
  • Ystleswurða 1176 P
  • Ysteleswurde 1177 ib
  • Ysteleswurtha 1180 ib
  • Histelehurd 1123–33 OxfordCh
  • Histelewrde 1163 ib
  • Istleworth 1231 Cl 1675 Ogilby
  • Yistelesworth, Yhisteleworth 1275 RH
  • Yistelworth 1306 FF
  • Yisilworth 1306 ib
  • Yistilworthe 1333 ib
  • Thistelleworth, Thistelworth 1313,1416 Pat
  • Thystelworth 1477 ADvi
  • Thissilworth 1522 DunBev
  • Istleworth al. Thistleworth 1629 PCC
  • Thistleworth 1641 SP
  • Thistlewood 1650 Madge
  • Isletworth 1348 SR
  • Isleworth 1463 PCC
  • Isellworth 1576 SR
  • Isselworth 1576 PCC
  • Isleworth vulgo Thistleworth 1675 Ogilby

Etymology

The identification of the first form, which occurs in a list of early gifts to the nuns of Barking, is not certain. If it is correct the first element is a personal name Gislhere , with later t de- veloping between the consonants s and l . Cf. Bülbring, Altenglisches Elementarbuch , § 535. The form Gistel - developed to Yistle - and Istle -. The occasional development of earlier Is (s )leworth to Thistleworth is curious and so is the modern pronunciation with initial [aizəl] rather than [isəl].