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.

Oakley Purlieus

Early-attested site in the Parish of Oakley, Great and Little

Etymology

Oakley Purlieus [pəˑliz]. Cf. Odewod 1374For . purlieu is found fairly often in forest-names, and denotes a tract on the border of forest-land (NED s. v .). The local pronunciation is illustrated in Morton's phrase (443) “the Earl of Exeter's Purlees.” In modern field-names it takes the form Purley and even Purleigh .

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Other OS name

Major Settlement