Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Alc(h)eslei, Alchelie 1086 DB

• Alkeley, Alkelay 13 Ch 1323 Ass 1280 YI 1294 FF 1590

• Alkle 1213 ChR

• Alkeleg 1240 FF

• Aulkeley 1557 FF

• Aukelay 1537 WillY

• Auckeley 1594 NCWills

• Awk(e)ley 1567 FF 1574 PRCnt 1596 FF

• Auckley 1592 WillY 1609 FF

• Aklay 1722 PRCnt

Etymology

'The glade or clearing of Alca or Alha', v. lēah . A late and rare OE  pers.n. Alca is known, but in view of its obscurity it may be merely a scribal variant of an OE  Alha , which would be a normal shortened form of one of the many pers.ns. like Alhhere , Alhmund , etc.; it would seem to occur also in Alkborough L (Alchebarge DB), which offers similar difficulties of interpretation. The early development of the fricative -h - to the plosive -k - is paralleled by Alkham K (OE Ealhham , Aukeham 1204 Pap, KPN 360), and other p.ns. like Alkington Gl (Alchmundingtuun BCS 559, Alhmundingtune ib 560, Alkminton 1194 P) or Alconbury Hu 231 from dithematic pers.ns. in Alh -, as well as Heckmondwike iii, 24infra . It may be noted that the medial -e - spellings preclude a derivation from OE  alh 'heathen temple'.