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.

Boldshay

Early-attested site in the Parish of Bradford

Historical Forms

  • Bolles(c)hagh(e) 1292 MinAcct 1341 Surv 1342 Ext
  • Bolleshawe 1341 Surv
  • Bollideshage 1292 BfdAntii,72
  • Bollideschaye 1296 MinAcct
  • Bolneshag(h)e 1341 Surv 1342 Ext
  • Boldshawe 1495 WillYk 1606 WYD
  • Bottshawe (sic for Boll'shawe) 1545 WillY
  • Boldshaye als. Bollershawe 1607 FF

Etymology

Boldshay (lost, but surviving as Boldshay St near Bradford Moor), Bolles (c )hagh (e )1292MinAcct , 1341Surv , 1342 Ext, Bolleshawe 1341Surv , Bollideshage 1292 BfdAnt ii, 72, Bollideschaye 1296MinAcct , Bolneshag (h )e 1341Surv , 1342 Ext, Boldshawe 1495 WillYk, 1606 WYD, Bottshawe (sic for Boll 'shawe )1545 WillY, Boldshaye als. Bollershawe 1607 FF. 'Copse of pollards', v. sceaga ; cf. Bowl Shaw 100supra , Bolledesaghe (Seacroft) pt. iv, the Bowshaws (Arthington) pt. iv infra .The first el. appears to be a ME  bolled (perhaps from bola 'tree-trunk' with the suffix -ed 3 (v. EPN i, 146)), literally 'provided with tree- trunks', here doubtless used of 'pollarded trees, that is, trees cut down to the trunks'. The Bolne - spellings are paralleled by a similar variation in the ME pa.part. bollen for bolled 'swollen'.

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Other OS name