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.

Priestcliffe

Early-attested site in the Parish of Taddington

Historical Forms

  • Prest(e)clive, Prest(e)clyve 1086 DB 1200 P 1225 ClR 1235 Ch 1250 DbAxiv 1396 Pat
  • Prest(e)clif(f), Prest(e)clyf 1315 Ipm 1330 Ass 1339 DbAxi 17th
  • Presley 1767 Burdett 1798 Tuke

Etymology

Priestcliffe, Prest (e )clive , Prest (e )clyve 1086 DB, 1200 P, 1225 ClR, 1235 Ch, 1250 DbA xivet freq to 1396 Pat, Prest (e )clif (f ), Prest (e )clyf 1315 Ipm, 1330Ass , 1339 DbA xiet freq to 17th, Presley 1767 Burdett, 1798 Tuke.'Priests' slope', v. prēost , clif . The 18th century forms show the common development to -ley , which however in this example was not a permanent one.