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.

Fackley

Early-attested site in the Parish of Teversal

Historical Forms

  • Falthleybrygge, Overfathleye, Overfatheleye, Fathley 13th Felley
  • Faghelaie bridge 1589 For
  • Faulkley heade 1609 LRMB
  • Foughley Bridge 1663 WoodsRept
  • Faighleigh 1682 Recov

Etymology

This is a difficult name. We might, with Professor Ekwall, take it to be a compound of OE  fealh , 'fallow' and leah, hence 'fallow clearing,' but it is a little difficult to think that the same name would be found at Felley (supra 117) and Fackley, only six miles away, still more that it should develop so differently.Possibly we should take the name to be a compound of fah and leah , 'stained, variegated clearing.'