Survey of English Place-Names

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.