_Cowley or Cowleas_.
Your correspondent W. asks the etymon of "Cowley;"--probably "Cow leas,"
or Cow pasture. In ancient records it is written "Couelee." I have
before me a survey or "extent" of the Hospitalers' lands in England,
including those formerly belonging to the Templars. In this record, as
in most that I have seen, it is written, "Templecouelee," and it is
entered as a limb of the commandry of Saunford or Sandford.