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.

Bullcliff

Early-attested site in the Parish of Sandal Magna

Historical Forms

  • Bulclif(e), Bulcliff(e), Bulclyff(e) 1404–1443 YDvi 1433 Hall 1457,1470 YDviii 1525 YDvi
  • Boultcliffe 1575 WillY
  • Boulcliffe 1656 PRThl 1822 Langd
  • Bull Cliff 1817 M

Etymology

Bullcliff, Bulclif (e ), Bulcliff (e ), Bulclyff (e )1404–1443 YD vi, 1433 Hall, 1457, 1470 YD viii, 1525 YD vi, Boultcliffe 1575 WillY, Boulcliffe 1656 PRThl, 1822 Langd, Bull Cliff 1817 M. The later spellings suggest that this is from OE  bult 'heap, hillock' and clif 'steep bank', but it may be OE  bula 'bull'.