English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Calton Lees

Early-attested site in the Parish of Edensor

Historical Forms

  • Leis 1205 FineR
  • Leyes Hy3 HardCh
  • Leghes 1344 1483 Hast
  • Cauton Leyes 1543 Woll
  • Calton Lees 1548 HardCh

Etymology

Calton Lees, Leis 1205 FineR, Leyes Hy 3HardCh (p), Leghes 1344 ib (p), 1483 Hast, Cauton Leyes 1543Woll , Calton Lees 1548HardCh .There are other examples in the county of this type of name, cf. Dalbury Lees and Norton Lees infra 548 and 284; it is difficult to decide whether it is lǣs 'pasture, meadow-land' or the pl. of lēah 'clearing'. Probably it is the latter.