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.

Dudley

Major Settlement in the Parish of Dudley

Historical Forms

  • Dudelei 1086 DB 1199 Cur
  • Dodelega 1190 P
  • Duddelaege, Duddelege, Duddeleye c.1140 Chron.ofJohnofWorc 1229 Ch 1264 Ipm 1275 SR
  • Doddele(ye) 1289 Wigorn 1327 SR

Etymology

'Dudda 's clearing,' v. leah . The forms of this name have often been confused with those of Diglis in St Peters-without- Worcester supra 162.

Places in the same Parish