Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Museleie 1086 DB

• Moselege, Moseley 1221,1262 Ass 1494,1511 ADiv 1549 Pat

• Mousley 1577 Saxton

Etymology

This lies on high ground with gravel, so apart from phonological difficulties, OE  mos is unlikely. Professors Ekwall and Zachrisson suggest OE  mūs (a )-lēage , 'field-mouse or field-mice clearing' (v. leah ). A pers. name Mūsa is also possible, cf. Robertus filius Muse in an Assize Roll of 1219. See further Mansion, Oudgentsche Namenkunde (88), on a Flemish name Muse or Musa . The name may have been influenced in its development by the more common type found in Moseley supra 128.