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.

Kixley Lane and Wharf

Early-attested site in the Parish of Knowle

Etymology

Kixley Lane (6″) and Wharf. Cf. Kyckesleye 1327, 1332 SR, Kyckeslegh 1329Rental , Kyckesle 1333Ct , Kekesleye 1356MinAcct (all p), Kixlelane 1396 KnowleRec, 1400WAM , Kyxley croft , Kixleywell , Kicksley lane 1608LRMB . The forms are late, but the first element may be the ME  kex , kix , kyx , a name for certain hollow- stalked plants such as the cow parsnip (v. NED, EDD, s. v .), carrying back the history of that obscure word some fifty years.The second element is leah.