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.

Bromley

Early-attested site in the Parish of Tankersley

Historical Forms

  • Bromelye 1557 WillY
  • Broomly Thornes 1684 WharnSurv
  • Brumley 1771 M

Etymology

Bromley, 1841 O.S., Bromelye 1557 WillY, Broomly Thornes 1684WharnSurv 72, Brumley 1771 M. 'Clearing amongst the broom', v. brōm , lēah . The spellings suggest that the name is a later formation, as this compound when old normally becomes Bramley in YW (cf. Phonol. § 29).