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.

Dunley

Early-attested site in the Parish of Areley Kings

Historical Forms

  • Dunelege 1221 Ass
  • Donesley c.1225 WoCh
  • Dunley 1275 Ipm 1424 IpmR 1527 LP 1650 FF
  • Donneleye 1327 SR
  • Downeley 1558 Wills

Etymology

This is the 'clearing' (v. leah ) of Dunna or Dūn (a ), though the existence of the last name (Redin 12) is not quite certain.Donneleye may be an error for Douneleye . The last form of all is probably an etymologising spelling.

Places in the same Parish

Major Settlement