Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Helesbe 1086 DB 1581 AddCh

• Helesby 1217–29 Dieul 1540 Dugd

• Helisby 13,1285,1307–24 Chol

• Helysbi 1240–9 Chest

• Helissby 13 CoLegh

• Ellesbi 1185 P

• Ellesby 1309 InqAqd

• Hellesbi 1189–99 Orm2

• Hellesby 1200–10 Whall

• Hellisby c.1233 Dow 1512 ChEx

• Hellysby, Hellesbi(e), Hellesbye, Hellesbey to 1656 Orm2

• Hellesberi 1189–99 Orm2ii374

• Hellesbury 1357 BPR 1515 ChEx

• Hallesbi 1208–29 Sheaf

• Helhesbi 1209–28 AD

• Hellesorhee a.1245 MidCh

• Helleseby a.1297 MidCh

• Hellesley 1300 Plea

• Hellesleye 1309 Misc

• Helsly 1546 Dugd

• Helsbye 1539–47 Dugd 1545 Plea

• Helsby 1553 Sheaf

• Helsbie 1599 ib

• Helsbey 1684 Chol

• Helsbe 1692 ib

• Hellsbie 1610 JRC

• Elsby 1780 Sheaf

• Hillisbie 1553 Pat

• Helshbye 1620 Chol

Etymology

'Village on a ledge', from hjallr and býr , by . The village lies on a narrow shelf between the foot of the precipitous Helsby Hill and the edge of Helsby Marsh, cf. Bradlingselfe infra . The el. hjallr 'a hut', is here used as in Norwegian p.ns. (cf. DEPN), with the sense 'a ledge on a mountainside', an extension of meaning doubtless resulting from such features providing sites for mountain-pasture huts in Norway. A few forms show confusion of býr and burh (byrig).