tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355319149523197079.post874223983620655165..comments2023-11-03T04:14:48.014-07:00Comments on Take Our Word For It Blog: The Etymology of a Couple of Famous SurnamesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02587464763230051621noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355319149523197079.post-84132157590348691872014-03-25T07:14:55.927-07:002014-03-25T07:14:55.927-07:00Indeed, Ousley (of which Ouseley is likely a varia...Indeed, <i>Ousley</i> (of which <i>Ouseley</i> is likely a variant) and <i>Owsley</i> are thought to derive from <i>Ouse</i> (name of the river that flows through York, England) and Old English <i>leah</i> "clearing." <i>Ouse</i> is ultimately a very ancient British word, from <i>ud-</i> "water." This would make <i>Ouseley</i> a habitation name, meaning people who lived "in the clearing on the Ouse" took that as their name.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02587464763230051621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355319149523197079.post-21629230677444663472014-03-24T14:36:06.193-07:002014-03-24T14:36:06.193-07:00My grandmother was a Woosley. Some in previous gen...My grandmother was a Woosley. Some in previous generations spelled it Ouseley. I have wondered if there is a connection to the names Wolsey or Worsley and if there is any connection to the Ouse River. I have not been able to determine if the name still exists in the UK.<br /><br />Thank you for any light you may be able to shed.Mrs. Shinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05032262482917177499noreply@blogger.com