Brockley

English

Etymology

From either the Old English personal name Broca or broc (“badger”) + lēah (“woodland clearing, glade”). Equivalent to brock +‎ -ley (“lea”).

Proper noun

Brockley (countable and uncountable, plural Brockleys)

1. (uncountable) A placename:
   1. A suburban area in the borough of Lewisham, Greater London, England (OS grid ref TQ3675).
      • 2021, Caleb Azumah Nelson, Open Water, Viking, page 42:

        ‘Where are you?’ she asks.
        ‘I am…’ You look outside and latch onto the enormous Sainsbury’s. ‘Pulling into Brockley.’

   2. A small village and civil parish in North Somerset, Somerset, England (OS grid ref ST4767).
   3. A village and civil parish in West Suffolk district, Suffolk, England (OS grid ref TL8254).
2. (countable) A habitational surname from Old English

Derived terms

• Brockley Hill
• Brockley Whins

Statistics

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Brockley is the 100791^st most common surname in the United States, belonging to 179 individuals. Brockley is most common among White (99.44%) individuals.

Further reading

• Hanks, Patrick, editor (2003), “Brockley”, in Dictionary of American Family Names, volume 1, New York City: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 232.