Bulley Family History

English (of Norman origin) is a habitational name derived from any of several places in northern France called Bouillé (La Manche, Maine-et-Loire, Mayenne) or Bully-en-Brai (Seine-Maritime). The name comes from a Gaulish personal name of uncertain form and meaning plus the locative suffix -acum.

Additionally, it is a habitational name from one or more of several places with similar names in England. Examples include Bulleigh in Devon or Bulley in Gloucestershire.

Both of these English places are named with the Old English term bula, meaning ‘bull,’ combined with lēah, which means ‘woodland clearing.’

This etymology highlights the connection between geographical features and the names given to various locales in both France and England.

Such habitational names often reflect the landscape and activities associated with these areas, illustrating how history and language intertwine.