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.

Bisley Hundred

Hundred in the County of Gloucestershire

Historical Forms

  • Biselege hvnd' 1086 DB
  • Bisel' Hund', Bysel' Hund', Bysele(a) Hund', Byseleg Hund', Byseley(a) Hund' 1168–95 P 1220 Fees 1221 Eyre 1248 Ass 1378 Works
  • Hund' de Bislegh, Hund' de Byslegh, Hund' de Bysley(e) 1221 Ass 1274 RH 1587 FF
  • (hundr' de) Bisseley, Bysseley 1501 Pat 1535 VE

Etymology

The hundred is named from Bisley (infra ) at its centre. The exact meeting-place is not known, but a suggestion made by the late Mr F. T. S. Houghton is The Wittantree (121infra ), a mile north of Bisley at the highest point just west of the Calf Way (156–902074).