Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Eslinghurst, Oslingehirst 1235 Ass

• Oslyngehurst t.Ed2 AddCh

• Oslynhurst 1345 Bodl

• Islinghurst t.Eliz ChancP

• Easlinghurst 1811 ParReg

Etymology

Islinghurst (c. 1825 O.S.) is Eslinghurst , Oslingehirst 1235Ass , Oslinghurst 1241, Oselingehurst 1255Ass (all p), Oslyngehurst t. Ed 2AddCh (p), Oslynhurst 1345 Bodl, Islinghurst t. Eliz ChancP, Easlinghurst 1811 ParReg. This name is not easy of interpretation. The later forms might well be developed from earliest, and would point to a compound of the recorded personal name Ēsla , the whole name denoting 'wood of (the people of) Ēsla .' On this basis, however, it is impossible to explain the persistent ME forms in O -. If we take them to be the more correct, we should have to start from an OE  Ōsla , such as is found in Oslanwyrth (BCS 764), an early form of Ozleworth (Gl), but in that case it is difficult to account for the later vowel- development. In the absence of further forms, the problem must remain an unsolved one.