Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Carleg' 1230 P

• Carlegh(e) 1238,1281 Ass

• Carleye 1287 FF

• Kearlegh 1330 Ass

Etymology

Carley is

Carleg '1230 P, Carlegh (e )1238, 1281Ass , Carleye 1287FF , Kearlegh 1330Ass (all p), v. leah . It is difficult to find any OE word to account for the first element of this name. It is likely therefore that we have here the Co  car (caer ), 'fort, camp,' common in Cornish place-names. It is true that no remains of any camp are visible at this spot, but the same is the case with many Cornish place-names containing this word. The place is so near the Cornish border that it is quite possible that the whole name is British, the second element being a word equivalent to W  llech , 'flat-stone,' which is apparently found in many Cornish names in leigh , e. g . Treleigh, Fenterleigh (olim Trelegh , Funtenlegh ).