Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Brathelaf 1272 Ipm

• Brathelake 1301 Kendi,14 1549 ib

• Brathela 1310 Ipm

• Brathelagh 1335 Ipm 1345 1349 ib

• Bratheley, Brathelay 1361 Ipm 1377,1390 Kendi,359

• Brachlowh als. Brachlaw 1283 Ipm

• Brathlowh 1283 Kendi,356

• Bradeley, Bradelay 1292 Ch 1393 FF

• Bradeleyfe(i)ld, Bradeleyfield 1525 Kendi,363 1580 1606,1625 PR(K)

• Braithlagh 1324 Ipm

• Brahelagh 1334 Kendi,19

• Bradley 1409 Kendi,287 1458 ib

• Bradleyfyld(e), Bradleyfe(i)ld, Bradleyfield 1539 FF 1543 RichWill 1554 Kendi,366 1777 M

• Braddeleyfield 1589 Comm

• Braidl(e)yfeild, Braydl(e)yfeild 1591,1599,1619 PR(K)

Etymology

'Broad clearing', v. brād , lēah . The forms of the first el. Brathe -, Braith - have been influenced by the cognate ON  breiðr. Of those of the second el. -lagh (-lawe ) is a not uncommon NCy variant of OE  lēah (cf. YW vii, 84 for other examples), and the oldest form with -laf is probably a variant of this with the substitution of -f for -gh , a change better evidenced in later times as in such words as laugh , cough , etc. (cf. Dobson §371). v. feld 'open country'.