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.

Billeshurst Wood

Early-attested site in the Parish of Lingfield

Historical Forms

  • Billesersse 1198 FF
  • Billeserse 1235 Ass
  • Billesers 1241 Ass
  • Billesersh 1305,1336 Ass
  • Bylisersse 1268 FF
  • Bylyshersh 1446 Inqaqd
  • Bylysshersh 1454 FF
  • Byllesherst 1541 SACxxviii

Etymology

Billeshurst Wood (6″) is Billesersse 1198 FF, Billeserse 1235Ass , Billesers 1241Ass , Billesersh 1305, 1336Ass , Bylisersse 1268 FF (p), Bylyshersh 1446 Inq aqd, Bylysshersh 1454 FF, Byllesherst 1541 SAC xxviii. 'Bil (l )'s ersc or stubble field.' For the personal name cf. Bilsborough (PN Sx 220). For confusion of the second element v. Introd. xxv.