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.

Willey Hundred

Hundred in the County of Bedfordshire

Historical Forms

  • Wilge, Wilga 1086 DB
  • Wilie, Wilye, Wylie, Wyly, Wylye 1166–7 P 1202,1227,1240 Ass 1276 Ass
  • Bochelai, Buchelai 1086 DB
  • Bukelawe 1189 P 1202 P 1247 Ass
  • Bukeslawe 1202 Ass
  • Buckelawe 1227 Ass 1287 Ass
  • Bucklowe 1227 Ass
  • Buckslowe 1227 Ass
  • Bockelowe 1276 Ass
  • Boclouwe 1284 FA
  • Buckelowe 1287 Ass 1316 FA

Etymology

v. welig . It is clear that, though the actual site is unknown, the Hundred must have met by some well-known willow-tree.Trees often marked the site of such meeting-places (cf. Mawer, PN and History , 23).