Upper Arley
Major Settlement in the Parish of Upper Arley
Historical Forms
- Earnleie 996 Dugdvi.1444
- Ernlege 1086 DB 1202 Cur
- Erneslea 1166 P
- Erlege, Erleia 1188,1197 P 1200 Cur
- Arnlege, Arnleye 1276 Pat 1316 FA 1327 SR
- Ar(e)leye 1332 SR 1401,1408 FA 1465 Pat
- Arneley vel Arley 1432 Pat
Etymology
'Eagle-clearing' (v. earn , leah ) or, possibly, 'Earna's clearing,' that name being a pet-form for an OE name in Earn -. It should be noted however that there is an OE river-name Earn , which may be genuine, lying behind Earnshill (So), cf. Muchelney Cartulary 47.There is a stream here coming down to the Severn, but, on the other hand, compounds of leah with a river-name are not likely.Earnley (Sx) is OE Earnaleah (BCS 1334), 'eagles' clearing,' and it is possible that this is the original form here. It is also known as Over Arley and Arley de Port , from the Port family who were here from the 12th cent. They came from Port-en- Bessin (VCH iii. 5). For Over v. Areley Kings supra 29.