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.

Brearley

Early-attested site in the Parish of Halifax

Historical Forms

  • Brerley 1536 Stansf
  • Brereley 1565 1570 WillY
  • Brearle 1567 PRHfx
  • Brearl(e)y 1599 YDv 1608 FF
  • Breerleye 1585 SheffCh

Etymology

Brearley, Brerley 1536 Stansf, Brereley 1565 ib, 1570 WillY, Brearle 1567 PRHfx, Brearl (e )y 1599 YD v, 1608 FF, Breerleye 1585 SheffCh 64. 'Clearing amongst or overgrown with briars', v. brēr , lēah , cf. Brierley i, 268supra .

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Other OS name