Etymograph

English

Ouseley

Ouseley comes from Old English lēah ‘clearing, glade’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *lewk- ‘bright’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*lewk-‘bright’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*lówkos‘clearing’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*lauhaz‘clearing’reconstructed
  4. Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*lauh‘clearing’reconstructed
  5. Old Englishc. 450–1150lēah‘clearing, glade’
  6. EnglishtodayOuseley

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*lewk-‘bright’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*lówkos‘clearing’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*lauhaz‘clearing’reconstructed
  4. Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*lauh‘clearing’reconstructed
  5. Old Englishc. 450–1150lēah‘clearing, glade’
  6. EnglishtodayOuseley

The story

Habitational surname from a minor place in Shropshire; the second element is undoubtedly Old English lēah (‘clearing, glade’).

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *lewk- ‘bright’

light, low, link, los, lucy, lunar, luna, ounce, illumination, lux, illuminate, lucid, translucent, lumen, lynx, luce, luminosity, lumia, luminous, lum, lune, loach, luminescent, luminary, leucine, luminal, 75 more

through Old English lēah ‘clearing, glade’

leigh, lea, lye

Today it means

name A surname from Old English.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *lewk- / Ouseley

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