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.

Durlett Fm

Early-attested site in the Parish of Rowde

Historical Forms

  • Durlete 1255 RH
  • Dorlegate 1300 WMiv
  • Durlezete 1341 Cor
  • Durlegate t.Ed3 For
  • Durlett t.Eliz LRMB
  • Durleyate 1630 BM
  • Durlyatt's Close, Durlyatt's Lane c.1840 TA

Etymology

A compound of þyrel, 'pierced,' and geat , 'gate.' It lies on the parish boundary. There is nothing in the topography which favours the interpretation of geat as 'gap.' The word smethe , smethet is found in the next name Smithwick. These places are a mile apart with somewhat broken country in between and this particular piece of 'smooth ground' must be different from that which gave name to Smithwick.