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 Wyrley

Major Settlement in the Parish of Cannock

Historical Forms

  • Wirlega 1170 P 1176 ib
  • Wirleg', Wyrleg' 1198 Fees 1203,1222 Ass
  • Wirlege 1231–4 MRA
  • Werleg 1262 For
  • Wirley(e), Wyrley(e) 1228 MRA 1272 FF 1271,1286 For 1285 FA 1316 1300 Ipm 1500 1301 Banco 1406 AddCh 1584 Comm
  • Wyrlegh, Wirlegh 1199 Ass 1218 ClR 1338 Fine
  • Wirle, Wyrle 1236 Fees 1256 Misc 1286 For 1293 QW
  • Werley 1279 Banco 1446 FF
  • Worley 1561 1684 PCC
  • Great Wyrleg 1222 Ass 1293 Ipm
  • Great Wyrley(e), Great Wirley(e) 1279 Banco 1570 Pat 1300 For 1332 SR 1361 Abbr 1834 O
  • Mochyll Wirley 1463 Su
  • Great Worley 1418 Banco 1542,1604 FF 1755 Bowen
  • Great Wurley 1555,1560 FF

Etymology

'Bog-myrtle glade', v. wīr , wȳr , lēah . Gt Wyrley is in contradistinction to Little Wyrley which is in Norton Canes Parish, and which alone is represented in DB. The same el. occurs in Wirral Ch 1 7.

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Other OS name

Major Settlement